Young gun shoots straight
CAMERON Davis came to the Australian Open hoping to just make his first cut.
Four days later he walked off with the Stonehaven Cup.
In only his 18th start as a pro, Davis lifted the trophy after a helter-skelter last round at The Australian Golf Club.
It was not only the 22-yearold’s first victory as a pro, it was his first top-10 finish. But the $225,000 cheque was well deserved for the Sydneysider after he held his nerve as stars such as Jason Day faltered.
Starting the day six shots off Day’s lead and six groups ahead, Davis carded a superb 64, nailing a birdie on the 18th to finish as clubhouse leader.
Final round pair Day and Lucas Herbert had earlier looked unassailable at the top, but Day dropped four shots in five holes mid-round, and Herbert also dropped four after the turn as the pressure went up.
Matt Jones and Jonas Blixt, who finished tied for second, both had a late run.
Swede Blixt had a 3m birdie putt on the last to force a playoff but his miss left Davis gobsmacked on the practice range.
“I was just doing my own thing when someone came and told me it was all over. I didn’t know what to say, it was a bit of a shock really,” Davis said.
“I have seen everything on TV and seen guys win this tournament, you never think you’re going to be there.”
Davis’s eyes almost rolled back in his head when reminded of the size of his cheque in the press conference.
The fact he earned a start at the British Open as well was a bit too much to comprehend on a dreamlike afternoon.
Davis missed the cut by plenty at the NSW Open last week and was just aiming to avoid that fate for a fourth straight Australian Open.
He won the Australian amateur title at the same course in 2015, but couldn’t take that form into the Open due to a broken wrist caused by hitting a tree root in the Mona Vale monthly medal.
It put him out for months, but the lanky right-hander, who can hit equally as well with his left, fought back.
Davis said his advantage was playing well ahead of the final groups, without the pressure they faced.
Day’s tournament crashed to end when he hit a ball in the water at the ninth, falling three behind Herbert. When Herbert’s calm suffered in the back nine, the pack surged.