National Squad member Cameron Smith outscored the likes of Ryo Ishikawa, Shingo Katayama and Jeev Milka Singh to finish 17th at the Asia Pacific Panasonic Open in Japan. Smith, who will next head to Turkey to represent Australia at the World Amateur Team Championships, shot rounds of 67-71-66-71 for a 9-under par total at the event co-sanctioned by the Japan and Asian Tours. Fellow Aussie Marcus Fraser was one stroke better at 10-under while Brendan Jones finished a stroke behind Smith at 8-under par. Asian Tour rookie Masanori Kobayashi (JPN) produced a magical front nine to win the title. Kobayashi matched the second best nine hole score of seven-under-par 28 on the Asian Tour for nine-under-par 62 and a winning total of 17-under-par 267 at the Higashi Hirono Golf Club. Koumei Oda closed with 67 for second while Shiv Kapur of India and Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines shared fourth place after shooting a 67 and 71 respectively at the US$1.9million event. Jake Higginbottom, the only other Australian amateur in the field, missed the cut.
Author: Hamish Jones / Golf Australia