Travis Smyth swept aside fellow Sydneysider Austin Bautista this afternoon to reach his first Australian Amateur Championship final.
Smyth, 21, played near flawless golf to beat his Bonnie Doon rival 5&3 and set up a mouth-watering finale tomorrow with Scotland’s Connor Syme, who was equally impressive in his semi.
Syme took down Welshman Evan Griffith 6&5 in quick time, easing concerns over blisters on his feet, especially with the decider a 36-hole showdown.
Smyth, a NSW state team player from St.Michael’s, didn’t make a bogey and was four under par when Bautista ran out of holes on the 15th.
“I’m really happy with the way I played today … I putted well and didn’t make too many mistakes,” he said.
“And I managed to get my way out of trouble when I did make a bad swing, so it was pleasing, especially in a semi-final of the national championship.”
Syme, who also rolled in some fantastic putts in his earlier quarter-final, was again frugal with the flat stick in downing his fellow Brit.
“I’m starting to get a good feel for the greens, which is nice,” said Syme, who played down his blisters.
“It won’t be a problem for the final, especially with only playing 13 holes this afternoon.”
The 36-hole final begins at 8.30am AEDT at Melbourne’s Metropolitan Golf Club, where entry is free.
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