Davis shoots seven-under to win Open
FORMER amateur star Cameron Davis has fought back tears after closing with a brilliant seven-under-par 64 to win the Australian Open golf championship in Sydney.
The 22-year-old began yesterday’s final round six shots adrift of overnight leader Jason Day but amassed six birdies and a spectacular hole-out eagle to claim the Stonehaven Cup at The Australian Golf Club.
Davis finished with a 72-hole total of 11-under 273, one shot better than 2015 champion Matt Jones and Swede Jonas Blixt, who both carded last-day 68s. “This is a dream come true,” Davis said after having his name etched on the famous trophy alongside golfing greats Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth. “It doesn’t get much better than this. I’m going to remember this forever. I couldn’t play any better today.”
Fellow US PGA Tour player Cameron Smith, who was runner-up last year in a playoff to Spieth, suffered another near miss, finishing fourth at nine under after a Sunday 68.
Day finishes 2017 winless after the former world No. 1 faded to fifth place at eight under after finding the water and racking up a double bogey on the ninth hole.
Torquay’s Ben Eccles finished in a tie for 24th after a one-over 72 which followed an impressive 68 on Saturday, while Curlewis’s Deyen Lawson failed to make a move on the final day, shooting a three-over 74 for a tie for 52nd.
Barwon Heads-based Richard Green faded over the weekend with two 74s to finish equal 37th along with former Geelong player Jack Wilson, who closed with a four-under round of 67.
Defending champion Spieth charged home with an eagle at the last in his final-round 67 to share eighth spot with 21-yearold Lucas Herbert (73) and Kiwi Mark Brown (68). But the day belonged to Davis, the world No. 1494 who won the national amateur title on the same course two years ago.
Davis’s victory completes an amazing comeback. He broke his wrist hitting a tree root in the Monash Medal at his home club on Sydney’s northern beaches and missed the 2015 summer before missing the cut at last year’s Open at Royal Sydney.