Peter Senior became the oldest winner of the Australian Masters when he clinched the title for the third time at Melbourne's Huntingdale Golf Club.
The 56-year-old Australian overcame a bout of nerves and withstood a late charge by Sydney professional Andrew Evans before sealing a two-shot win on the 18th hole with a clutch putt for par.
Senior's final-round, three-under 68 gave him an eight-under total of 276, securing his third 'gold jacket' 20 years after his second at Huntingdale in 1995. He won his first in 1991.
The Queenslander now owns the records for the oldest winner at all three of his nation's marquee tournaments, having won the Australian Open at 53 in 2012 and the Australian PGA Championship in 2010.
"I'm getting a bit long in the tooth now. But it's amazing some of the things that have happened the last few years," said Senior.
"Nearly every hole on the back nine, everyone was cheering me, even my poor shots. It was just great. I have not had that sort of following for a very, very long time. It sort of encouraged me."
Teeing off two strokes behind overnight leader Matthew Millar, Senior threw down the gauntlet at the 10th hole, the course's longest par-four at 477 yards, with a sublime two-iron approach that gave him a tap-in birdie for the lead.
Another birdie at the 13th gave him a three-stroke buffer and Senior appeared set to cruise to victory before shanking a three-wood off the tee into trees on the 17th.
The resulting bogey drew him level with fast-finishing Evans in the group behind, but Evans also stumbled on the penultimate hole to give up a one-stroke lead.
Senior picked the wrong club for his approach on the 18th, landing it in a greenside bunker, but completed a nerve-wracking up-and-down to save par before Evans crumbled with a bogey on the last.
Evans' 71 left him joint-second on six-under with John Senden (70) and US Amateur champion Bryce DeChambeau, who finished strongly with a four-under 67.
Former world No 1 Adam Scott blew his chance of victory with a six-over 77 in the third round but he recovered with a 69 in the final round to finish fifth on four under.
Scott paid tribute to Senior, saying: "He's based his career around being very accurate and precise and he's a hell of a competitor."
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