Jin is the tonic in Perth

Jin Jeong put the seal on a remarkable victory in the ISPS HANDA Perth International by defeating Ross Fisher in a sudden-death play-off to win a dream ticket to The European Tour. The 23 year old Korean started the day one behind home favourite Brody Ninyette, but made a nightmare start to his final round at Lake Karrinyup with a four-putt double bogey before recovering to shoot a three under par 69 and match Fisher’s ten under clubhouse target. Birdies at the fourth and fifth atoned for Jeong’s early blunder, but it was only when Ninyette dropped his first shot of the day at the 13th that the Australian was caught. Jeong made important par putts at the 16th and 17th as Ninyette’s challenge faded, but when Fisher hit his tee shot to within a foot at the 17th and birdied the two were tied and neither could birdie the last. On their return down the 18th for the first play-off hole Fisher caught a flyer with his approach and went through the green, leaving Jeong two putts to sew up the title. “I was nervous, I was shaking but I controlled myself pretty well all day I thought,” said former World Amateur Number One Jeong. “I don't know what I've done to be honest. “I was struggling quite a bit when I was turning pro, but it was going to happen in the learning circuit I guess. “I had played play-offs in mini tour events, but playing with Ross Fisher, he's one of my heroes. Playing with him in the play-off, it was unbelievable.” Jeong, who has featured on The Challenge Tour this season, had recently progressed through the First Stage of The European Tour Qualifying School, but now earns a two-year exemption to The European Tour. “I was going to go back to Q School Second Stage the week after next but I guess I don't have to anymore,” he added.  Former Ryder Cup star Fisher consoled himself with a runner-up cheque that sees him climb into the top 60 of The Race to Dubai and should qualify him for the DP World Tour Championship. “Obviously it would have been lovely to have come here and won, but that's golf,” said Fisher, who carded a closing 68.“Unfortunately I came up a little bit short, but I can be very pleased the way I played today. I hung in there really well; it was always going to be tough. “There are some good names up there and I knew I needed to just play really well. I felt like I did that. Hats off to Jin for winning his first professional tournament.” Ninyette’s closing 72 saw him tie for third with compatriot Dimitrios Papadatos and England’s Danny Willett. As Jin celebrated his life-changing victory, there was also joy for Peter Lawrie, whose closing two under par 70 was good enough to earn him a share of 18^th spot on three under and win enough money to move into the top 110 in The Race to Dubai and keep his status on The European Tour for next season. While tour winners Richard Finch, Fredrik Andersson Hed and Peter Hedblom, along with Oliver Fisher and Joel Sjoholm, could not do enough to avoid a trip to the Qualifying School in November, Lawrie can relax and get ready for a new season. The Irishman had actually moved into contention to win the tournament early in the day but the pressure of trying to keep his tour card meant he was never really focused on winning.  “I'm just glad it's over to be totally honest with you,” he said. “I've never felt so much pressure in my life as I have the last eight weeks. You can't sleep, can't eat properly, it's just horrendous. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. “I got off to a great start today and could have pressed on and tried to win the tournament but coming down the stretch trying to get the job finished without making a mental error or doing something stupid proved too much in terms of trying to get the win. “Hopefully I’ll fly home and probably sleep for a change. Go home and be with the family and stop being grumpy. I've been that soldier for the last while so it will be nice to not have to worry for a while.”