Teenager Aaron Baddeley won his second successive Australian Open by two strokes yesterday with a four-round total of 10-under-par 278.

Baddeley (19) held off a challenge from 1994 winner Robert Allenby, who led him by one stroke after three rounds but had a three-over 75 to finish on 280 while Baddeley shot an even-par 72.

Last year, as an 18-year-old amateur, Baddeley became the youngest victor in Australian Open history and yesterday he joined such names as Greg Norman (1995-'96), Jack Nicklaus (1975-'76) and Gary Player (1962-'63, 1969-'70) in retaining the title.

Richard Green shot a 69 to finish third on 282, two strokes ahead of Scott Laycock as Australians filled the top four places.

Former world number one Norman, third after three rounds, shot a two-over 74 to fade to equal fifth on 285 with Swede Pierre Fulke, the highest-placed non-Australian. Nick Faldo finished 10 shots off the winner.

Baddeley, who had rounds of 69, 69, 68 and 72, took a fourshot lead into the final hole but nervously three-putted for a double-bogey six while Allenby had a four.

Allenby (29), who won twice on the US PGA Tour this year, shot a course-record 64 on Saturday to lead after three rounds on 11-under 205 from Baddeley's 206, with Norman third on 211.

Saturday's form deserted Allenby, however. Paired with Baddeley he started disastrously with a double-bogey on the parfour first hole.

In an engrossing battle, Baddeley led Allenby by just two shots after nine holes. His lead went out to six strokes after 12 holes but two birdies from Allenby and a double-bogey from Baddeley left Allenby within two shots after 16 holes.

But Allenby bogeyed the 17th and Baddeley had a birdie to extend his lead to four shots.

Baddeley won last year by a similar two-stroke margin at Royal Sydney from Norman and fellow Australian Nick O'Hern.

Colin Montgomerie achieved some quick compensation for losing his European number one title when walking away with considerably more than a fist-full of dollars from this weekend's Skins Game in California.

The Scot made a two-foot par putt worth $340,000 on the third play-off hole to beat defending champion Fred Couples at Landmark Golf Club.