Peter Lonard, who eight years ago thought he would never play golf again, completed the treble of Australia's three biggest golf tournaments.

Lonard came from behind with a typically unstoppable back-nine roll to win the Australian Open at Moonah Links by a shot from Stephen Leaney of Western Australian and Queensland's Chris Downes.

He finished at nine under after rounds of 68 72 70 and a three-under par 69.

Already the winner of two Australian Masters titles and a PGA Championship, Lonard now has his name on a trophy that has been won by the world's best.

"If you'd told me back in the dark days that I'd be winning any of these, I'd have said you were crazy," Lonard said.

"Now it means I'm a part of Australian golf history for the rest of time."

Lonard was struck down by Ross River virus in the mid 1990s, just as his golfing career was taking shape.

For two years he was asleep more than he was awake and underwent extensive treatment before he could get through a normal day.

But with the sort of tenacity that was to win him Australia's best golf tournaments, as well as a place on the US PGA Tour, Lonard battled his way through the illness.

Within two years he had won his first Masters, last year he won another, along with the PGA crown he shared with Jarrod Moseley.

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