Japan`s Haru Nomura played an astonishing final round of 65 to clinch victory in the ISPS Handa Women`s Australian Open at The Grange today.

The 23-year-old from Tokyo was virtually unheard of in these parts before this week, but not now.

She bombed home eight birdies in the final round having started the day in a share of the lead at nine-under.

So emphatic was her win that by the time she made a monster birdie putt at the 17th she was three ahead. It allowed her the luxury of a bogey -- her first of the day -- at the par-four 18th when she found the front-right trap and failed to get up and down.

Nomura, who has never before won at this level, is ranked 67th in the world and has played five seasons on the LPGA Tour in America without drawing much attention.

Her tournament-winning spell came with birdies at 15, 16 and 17, a run that not even the world No. 1 Lydia Ko could match.

Ko finished outright second at 13-under par, and was not disgraced in the slightest. She came home in 67, which in normal circumstances would have been enough. Australia`s Karrie Webb was third at nine-under, having joined the lead with three early birdies before faltering.

Nomura had just 26 putts, ramming them in from everywhere. \"The putter... Wow... Unbelievable,`` she said afterward.

She is the first Japanese winner of the tournament since 1974, when Chako Higuchi won at Victoria.