Bullen wins Down Under

PGA Assistant Michael Bullen has won Australia’s National Futures Championship following a thrilling finale at Ballarat Golf Club.

The 26-year-old, who is based at Rustington Golf Centre, sunk an eagle on the final play-off hole to clinch the £3,200 top prize last Friday and claim his first victory overseas.

Bullen opened the tournament with rounds of 71, 73 and 68 which put him four strokes off the lead ahead of the final day. At one point that deficit went down by as many as six before the Englishman hit four birdies on the back nine in windy conditions to finish on three-under par to draw even with Australian Gavin Fairfax. The duo contested a five-hole play-off to decide the winner with Bullen coming out on top.

Bullen told The Courier newspaper in Australia: "I didn't really know exactly where I was, but I had a good idea I was up there because a lot of people started to gather around me.

"I wasn't under too much pressure because I had two shots to win and I ended up making a perfect putt to get the eagle.

"I needed the weather to be good enough to still pose a good score, but bad enough that some of the leaders dropped off and that's what happened - the guys at the top struggled and I played well.”

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