Local Craig Spence held off former world number one Greg Norman by a shot yesterday to win the Australian Golf Masters at Huntingdale, Melbourne.

Spence fired a three-under par final round of 70 to take the crucial winning shot from Norman.

The 24-year-old, playing on his home course, dropped a three-foot birdie putt at the 72nd hole to secure his first professional success. He finished with a four-round total of 276, 16-under par.

Spence had been frustrated throughout the final round around the greens, but kept his cool to hang on to a lead he had taken on the first day of the tournament.

"What kept me strong down the home stretch was that I'd done all the hard work," Spence said.