Date: November 22, 2009
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Smith finishes fifth at NSW PGA Championship

AIS/Golf Australia National Squad member Brendan Smith fired a final round 68 to finish in a tie for fifth place at the Cellarbrations NSW PGA Championship at Wollongong Golf Club. Smith finished with rounds of 65-66-66-68 to be 15-under par and six shots behind winner Aaron Townsend who flirted with the magical 59 mark in the second round before finishing with a 61. Smith finished tied with fellow Aussie Josh Lane and New Zealand&aposs Michael Hendry. Former Australian Number 1 Amateur Scott Arnold finished in a tie for second at 18-under par with Michael Wright. Townsend&aposs victory comes a year to the day after he claimed the NSW Open making Townsend one of the few professionals to hold both the NSW Open and NSW PGA titles at the same time. “That&aposs certainly something special,” Townsend remarked. “To go into the defence of my NSW Open title after this win certainly gives me plenty of confidence. I feel my game is solid and I played well all week here so I&aposm looking forward to it.” Townsend will be the one to beat as the field heads to the Hunter Valley for the $135,000 NSW Open hosted by Nathan Green at The Vintage which begins on Thursday 26th November. FINAL LEADERBOARD (Top 10) 1. -21 Aaron Townsend (AUS) 67 61 65 66 T2.-18 Scott Arnold (AUS) 68 67 61 66 Michael Wright (AUS) 66 62 64 70 T4. -16 Peter Wilson (AUS) 65 64 65 70 T5. -15 Michael Hendry (NZL) 64 70 64 67 Josh Lane (AUS) 70 61 66 68 Brendan Smith (Am) (AUS) 65 66 66 68 8. -14 Rudi Bezuidenhout (AUS) 69 62 68 67 T9. -13 Ben Wharton (AUS) 67 65 70 65 Michael Long (NZL) 66 66 68 67 Aaron Pike (AUS) 64 65 66 72 T12. -12 Brad Andrews (AUS) 70 65 69 64 Mathew Holten (NZL) 69 69 64 66 Luke Hickmott (AUS) 68 62 66 72