Austin Bautista has held his nerve to break through for a maiden Australasian Tour victory with a commanding seven-stroke triumph in the season-ending NT PGA Championship.
The 25-year-old New South Welshman started the final day with a six-shot lead and managed to extend it as he shot a closing two-under 69 and won at 20-under 264 at the Palmerston course south of Darwin.
Queenslander Tim Hart (67) and Victoria's Ben Wharton (68) tied for a distant second place, one shot clear of defending champion Aaron Pike who battled to a 71 in the final group with Bautista.
Bautista steadied any nerves with birdies at the opening two holes and overcame a patchy middle section with three consecutive late birdies to seal his comprehensive victory and claim the $27,000 winner's cheque.
The young gun set up his victory with a course-record 61 in the second round on Friday.
A former top amateur, Bautista quit golf for two years from 2018 to volunteer with humanitarian aid organisations overseas before rehoning his game on the mini tours in the US.
