Van Pelt fends off Dufner to win by 2 in Perth

Perth, Western Australia – Bo Van Pelt closed with a 4-under 68 to earn a 2-stroke win over Jason Dufner at the inaugural Perth International.

Van Pelt, who won for the first time on the European Tour, finished at 16- under-par 272.

"Jason and I had a good battle today. We both played well," Van Pelt said at the trophy presentation. "I had a little bit of a lead there and made bogey on 14. I thought I hit a good shot, but it definitely got tight there at the end. A little tighter than I wanted, but luckily I came out on top."

Dufner posted a 3-under 69 on Sunday to take second at minus-14.

"It's been a good trip. It's good to get back out and compete and nice to be in the hunt after a couple weeks off and after The Ryder Cup," Dufner said. "Nothing to be ashamed of, just got to tighten up a couple things."

Alejandro Canizares was three strokes back at 11-under-par 277 after a final- round 68 at Lake Karrinyup Country Club. Michael Hendry carded a 3-under 69 to end alone in fourth at minus-9.

Paul Casey (67), David Howell (71), Rhys Davies (69), Scott Jamieson (68) and Emiliano Grillo (74) shared fifth at 8-under-par 280.

Grillo started the day two strokes off the lead, but fell off the pace with back-to-back bogeys at seven and eight. He had three more bogeys on the back nine to drop into a tie for fifth.

That left everything up to Van Pelt and Dufner. Van Pelt birdied the first to push his lead to two. Dufner had a chance to cut his deficit at the par-5 third, but failed to convert his eagle putt.

Dufner tapped in for a 2-putt birdie, while Van Pelt chipped to a foot and kicked that in for a birdie of his own. Van Pelt had an answer for Dufner again at No. 7.

At that par-5, Dufner chipped in for the second straight day, this time for birdie. Van Pelt responded by draining his 15-footer for birdie. Dufner failed to save par from a bunker on the eighth, but erased that mistake with a 25- foot birdie effort on the ninth.

Van Pelt birdied the 10th from 12 feet out, and Dufner did the same from eight feet away. Van Pelt pushed his lead to three with a short birdie putt at 11.

The 14th was the swing Dufner was looking for. He stuffed his approach within inches of the cup and tapped in for birdie. Van Pelt stumbled to a 3-putt bogey and his lead was down to one.

Van Pelt bounced back with a short birdie effort at the 15th. Dufner fell three back as he bogeyed the 16th, but Van Pelt dropped a shot on 17.

Dufner needed a miracle at the last, but it didn't happen. Both Americans 2- putted for par to give Van Pelt the win.

"It was a battle all week. The greens were firm and fast. It was just a joy to play all week," Van Pelt said. "I let a couple chances slip by this year, whenever get the lead you want to try to take advantage of it. So it was nice to finish one off this week."

NOTES: Van Pelt picked up 256,585 euros for the victory...He became the 11th first- time winner on the European Tour this season...The European Tour heads to China next week for the BMW Masters, another new event on the schedule.