Sunday March 27, 2011, 12:15 PM

Australian Andre Stolz, who came out of retirement just two years ago, recorded an emotional triumph in the $1 million Indonesia PGA Championship on Sunday, pipping home favourite Rory Hie.

The 40 year old fired a final round four-under-par 68 for a winning total of 14-under-par 274.

Overnight leader Rory Hie from Indonesia carded a 72 to finish alone in second place one shot behind Stolz at Imperial Klub Golf.

New Zealander Gareth Paddison and Park Eun-shin from Korea finished one stroke further back in the season-opening event on OneAsia.

Local fans were disappointed that 22-year-old Hie was unable to close the deal but applauded the Australian, who has had a torrid time in recent years.

Stolz was one of his country's finest players before a wrist problem had a profound effect on his career.

He has won one title on each the US PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour, and Japan Tour plus tasted victory four times on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

However, in 2005 a nagging wrist injury caused by wear and tear forced him into retirement for nearly three years. He gradually started to play again and rejoined the Tour in Australia in 2008.

In 2009 he won the Victorian PGA Championship but his win this week, worth a cool $180,000, emphatically announced his return to the top flight.

"A couple of years ago I thought I would never play again and now I am standing here with a trophy for a $1million event. It will take some time to sink in," said Stolz, whose wife Cathy was caddying for him.

"I had to completely remodel swing. The second half of last year I started to play really well and this week I played great but the putter was misbehaving," added the Australian.

His putting came good at the correct time though when he rammed in a 35 foot birdie putt on 17 and holed an eight footer for birdie on the last.

Hie, playing in the final pairing behind Stolz, also birdied the last two holes but he lost his chance of winning when he bogeyed the 10th, double bogeyed the 11th and bogeyed the 12th.

"I really thought this was going to be my week. I had prepared so hard. However, I am proud of the way I finished the round and this final day has been a great learning experience," said Hie, who won $102,000.

He was helped by the fact that he knows the course like the back of his hand. He claimed The International Championship at Imperial in 2008 on the ASEAN PGA Tour just months after turning professional.

Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant finished fifth after shooting a 70. He thrilled the crowds by holing his second shot for an eagle on the 17th.

China's Liang Wenchong, the reigning OneAsia Order of Merit champion, ended in a tie for 28th place after closing with a 76.

© 2011 AFP/sid