Harrison Crowe has kept his composure in a thrilling finish to become only the third Australian to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship with a one-shot victory at Amata Spring Country Club in Thailand.
The win means the 21-year-old Sydneysider will fulfil his childhood dreams by gaining exemptions into next year's US Masters and British Open, thanks to his steely resolve through Sunday's back nine.
Crowe began the day with a two-shot lead but struggled with a three-over 39 through the front half.
He trailed playing partner Bo Jin of China by three shots at the turn, before reducing the deficit to a single stroke after the 16th.
A double-bogey by Bo to Crowe's par at the island hole on 17 put the Australian in the lead, and after Bo restored the pressure by making a par four at the 18th, Crowe cooly rolled in a three-foot par putt to secure the title.
"It feels amazing right now," said Crowe, who closed with an even 72 to Bo's 71.
"I came out here this week with something to prove and I'm extremely proud of myself for how I hung in there today.
"It took a lot of digging deep there. I had a great chat with my dad, coach and manager out there which helped me along. I'm just really proud of myself.
"It's really surreal. To have my dad and so many family and friends out here today is awesome."
Crowe, who joined Antonio Murdaca in 2014 and Curtis Luck in 2016 as the only Australians to win this event, lost his early advantage with a nervous front nine marred by bogey fives at the first, fourth and ninth.
But the reigning NSW Open, NSW Amateur, Victorian Amateur and Australian Master of the Amateurs champion proved his fighting qualities with those victories last summer, and this occasion was no exception.
He suddenly found form with the putter to produce a hat-trick of birdies from the 11th to the 13th, then showed his emotion after holing another birdie putt on 15 for a share of the lead.
His bogey five on 16 handed Bo back the lead, however, before his rival found water for his double-bogey on 17 which ultimately proved decisive.
