Dominant Smith sets up a dream PGA duel

LEADER BOARD

A CAMERON Smith masterclass has set up a dream Saturday grouping with Marc Leishman and brought his Australian PGA Championship defence to life on the Gold Coast.

Smith was one shy of the Royal Pines course record in carding a seven-under 65 yesterday, moving him to nineunder for the tournament and one ahead of Marc Leishman and Jake McLeod. Victorian Leishman replicated his Thursday 68, while Dimi Papadatos (seven-under) had briefly held the lead as he wages war with McLeod for the Order of Merit spoils.

Like fellow overnight leader McLeod, WA’s Jager didn’t fade and only a bogey on the last separated him from the Townsville product.

Smith took the honours though, mixing seven birdies with a bogey through his first 10 holes to wipe aside a frustrating first-day 70.

While cursing himself for not getting to 10-under, Smith’s no-fuss showing has set up a showdown with a fellow Queenslander he knows well from their days on the junior representative scene.

“Jakey and I, we’ve been in state teams together, fiddled around at home, QAS train- ings, everything,” he said of the talent one year his junior. “Jakey’s a good boy, love playing with Jake. There’s so many guys that I grew up playing with who were all really good and it’s good to see a few of them doing well.”

Healthy crowds followed Smith and his playing partner Andrew “Beef” Johnston and were rewarded when the Englishman chipped in for birdie on the rowdy 16th party hole. 135: Cameron Smith (AUS) 70 65. 136: Jake McLeod (AUS) 66 70, Marc Leishman (AUS) 68 68. 137: Dimitrios Papadatos (AUS) 67 70, Matt Jager (AUS) 66 71, Christopher Wood (AUS) 71 66. 138: Harold Varner III (USA) 69 69. 139: David Bransdon (AUS) 71 68, Andrew Johnston (ENG) 70 69, Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 69 70, Paul Hayden (USA) 72 67, Anthony Quayle (AUS) 70 69.