A 23-year-old Australian kid who turned professional six weeks ago and almost saw his career - and his life - derailed after a bad car accident 18 months ago?Of course he was going to make a fantastic birdie on the final hole to win the $1 million New Zealand Open at The Hills, ahead of 139 other professionals with vastly more experience.
Zunic provided a massive gallery with a heart-warming story under the scorching sun yesterday when he claimed a stunning breakthrough win with tears in his eyes.
He banked a $171,000 cheque with a 21-under-par total of 266, adding three rounds of 66 to his opening 68 and finishing a shot clear of veteran compatriot David Bransdon in a dramatic end to the tournament.
He became the fourth straight Australian to win the Open, a week after finishing tied for eighth at the New Zealand PGA.
But every day has been a win for the tall, lean kid from Wollongong since the day he and a couple of peers were involved in a nasty smash in the United States.
Zunic was hospitalised for a week with injuries that included a bad elbow fracture and significant blood loss.
''It was tough coming back from that. I didn't know whether I'd be able to play golf again,'' Zunic said.
''Since then, it's been a bit of a roller coaster ride. I've played good, and then not so good.
''No matter how bad things got, I had that determination to get better, because this is where I want to be.
''When I started playing again, I just felt so grateful to be breathing and out there playing golf. I could have easily died.
''That actually helped me play better. I wasn't expecting much. I just went out there and enjoyed playing golf.
''I feel like it's really built character for me and made me a little wiser. You realise how fragile life can be.
''I know it was horrible at the time but I feel like it's made me a stronger person.''
Zunic, who won the China Amateur last year, was at or near the lead for most of yesterday's round.
All was looking rosy when he birdied four consecutive holes on the back nine, but he bogeyed the 16th hole and then found the large bunker on the 17th.
He saved par there, drove well on the 18th and then played the shot of his career, a lovely lofted effort with a 9-iron that bounced back off the pin to leave him with a short but extremely important putt for the win.
''I'm still in disbelief. I'm trying to pinch myself to say that this happened.
''I knew I was playing well. But playing well and winning - there's a big difference between the two. I'm just over the moon. I really can't believe it. It's awesome.''
Zunic, who also won the pro-am title on a countback, will now get full status on the Australian tour and a handful of starts in Japan.
It was impossible not to feel a little sorry for Bransdon, the 41-year-old journeyman who held a share of the lead after the opening round and the outright lead after the second.
He dropped back to the pack on Saturday but went on a birdie blitz yesterday.
At one stage, he birdied eight of nine holes, and when he chipped in from off the 16th green for a birdie two and also picked up a shot on the 17th, he was in pole position.
All the good work was undone on his 72nd hole of the tournament when Bransdon found the nasty bunker on the 18th and could not save par.
Another Australian, Kristopher Mueck, was also something of a sob story yesterday. The overnight co-leader had many birdie opportunities but could not make his putter sing.
Of the other leading Australians, rising star Cameron Smith had a stunning weekend, carding 64 and 66 to climb to 17-under, alongside 2011 New Zealand Open champion Brad Kennedy.
Daniel Fox - not the Fox most of the crowd wanted to see tear up the course - matched Bransdon's 64 to finish at 16-under, and the ageless Peter Fowler carded a fourth consecutive round in the 60s to end at 15-under.
World No 77 Hiroshi Iwata was the leading Japanese golfer. He fired a 66 yesterday to finish 13-under and tied for 12th.
