Amateur upsets pros

Kazuma Kobori, a 17-year-old amateur from Canterbury, upset David Smail and a host of other leading Australasian professionals to win the 2019 NZ PGA Championship.

Playing on his home course, Kobori shot a final round 69 in drizzly conditions yesterday to record a career-best win, over Smail, by four shots – at 21-under – at the Pegasus Golf and Sports Club in North Canterbury.

‘‘It feels incredible,’’ said an ecstatic Kobori. ‘‘It hasn’t actually sunk in yet.’’

The teenage sensation shot a pair of birdies on the front nine and two more on the back, along with a bogey on 17, to finish three under in his final round.

‘‘I didn’t miss too many greens today,’’ said Kobori, who took a four-shot lead into the final round.

‘‘I missed a few but on the front-9 I played really solid. I missed a green on 3 but I played really solid golf until 8, then went 2-under through the turn and kept it going.’’

Smail shot a final-round 68 with three birdies on the front nine and two more down the back to finish at 17 under.

‘‘I started off not feeling that confident, towards the end yesterday I started hitting some pretty bad shots so I was just trying to keep it in play,’’ said Smail who, as the highest-placed professional, took home the first place prize money of $17,555.

Australia’s Cameron John shot a final round 70 to finish third at 16-under.