Lucas Parsons, who as a youngster dreamt of being an Olympic diver, won Australia's richest-ever golf tournament in his home city of Sydney yesterday. The 30-year-old produced a superb six-under-par closing round of 67 to run away with the Stg £146,455 top prize at the Greg Norman Holden International at The Lakes.

While Welshman David Park, the joint overnight leader, fell back to fifth place with a 74 and Ryder Cup Scot Andrew Coltart, with 71, failed to improve on his third spot, Parsons scored the joint best round of the day to beat fellow Australian Peter Senior by four strokes.

Ireland's Paul McGinley, after getting back into contention for a high finish with a third round of five-under-par 67, fell away in the closing round to shot a one-over-par 74 for a four round total of six-under-par 286.

Parsons finished with a 19-under-par total of 273. "It was hard work, but I loved every minute of it," he said. "I've had my ups and downs over the last few years, but this sets up everything for me." Having played on Europe's Challenge Tour last season, he has earned himself an exemption for the next two years on the main circuit.

As a teenager Parsons was runner-up in the Australian junior diving championship and won four New South Wales titles. "I gave it up because I didn't like being judged by others," he said. "In golf you're the boss - I'm in charge of my own destiny." Park was four shots clear after eight holes of his third round on Saturday, but was reeled in by Parsons and they began yesterday on level terms. But after Parsons birdied the first, Park bogeyed the second and the gap was never less than two for the rest of the day.

Senior missed a chance to apply more pressure by bogeying the last, but, in truth, it was a one-man show. Coltart must have sensed it was not to be his day when, four behind, he threeputted the 577-yard 11th for a par and missed from five feet on the next.

"I hit only one poor shot all day, but I didn't take any chances, particularly on the back nine," he conceded.

"You want to win, so I'm disappointed, but I've finished third. If somebody had said before I came out here that I'd do that I would have been delighted. Hopefully it's a sign of good things to come." Park, too, was philosophical. "I didn't get off to a great start and although I hung in there I couldn't buy a putt. It was frustrating, but I'm on a big learning curve and the last couple of years have been the start of it," he said.

Biggest surprise was that Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal, after leaping up to joint third place with a Saturday 66, managed only 74. as well and finished in a tie for eighth.

Alongside him was Scot Gary Orr, the only man to match Parsons' 67 on the final day, Doncaster's Ian Garbutt, Philip Price and Australian amateur Scott Gardiner.

John Daly finished in a tie for 43rd place and has decided to delay his return to America for a further week to play in this week's Australian Masters in Melbourne.