Cort denied Aussie double

Leicestershire's Matthew Cort relinquished his grasp on the Australian PGA National Futures title - but only just.

The 38-year-old defending champion, who secured a return to Australia by virtue of winning the Powerade PGA Assistants' Championship in June, had to settle for a share of second place with Australia Alex Edge at three-under-par.

Cort, who is in the final year of his PGA Foundation degree, was one shot off the lead ahead of the final round at the Catalina Country Club, New South Wales, however, a final round three-over-par 75 saw the title go to another foreign raider with New Zealand's Sean Riordan taking the title by six shots.

The former European Tour and Challenge Tour was always in the hunt to retain the crown, however Riordan, like Cort, is a double assistant champion on home soil - and was also hotly tipped for the title having finished in a share of third place 12 months ago.

Cort's second place finish earned him AUS$4,736 (£3,060), and maintained an excellent record in the tournament for the PGA in recent years.

Guy Woodman took the title in 2007, Jonathan Lupton secured top 10 finishes in 2008 and 2009 while Kevin Harper, was runner up in 2010.