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Elvis Smylie held off former Open champion Cameron Smith down the back nine to win the Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane on Sunday.<\/b><\/p>\n
The 22-year-old Queenslander carded a four-under-par 67 to finish on 14 under for the tournament, which was reduced to 54 holes after heavy rain washed out play on Friday.<\/p>\n
Australian Smith, a three-time winner of this event, posted a final round of 69 to finish two shots back on 12 under, with compatriots Marc Leishman (69) and Anthony Quayle (63) a shot further back.<\/p>\n
Smylie, 22, was one of two players to receive the Cameron Smith Scholarship in 2019 and the pair shared the second-round lead heading into Sunday.<\/p>\n
The world number 736, son of former four-time Grand Slam tennis doubles champion Liz Smylie, only secured his first professional win on the PGA Tour of Australasia last month.<\/p>\n
But after carding four birdies to reach the turn with a three-shot lead, he held his nerve to make several par saves and stay ahead of Smith, who birdied the 15th and holed out for another at the 17th.<\/p>\n
“It’s a dream come true,” Smylie said. “I just said to Matt [Clayton, caddie] that I won’t forget this day, you know, playing with Cam and Leish there.<\/p>\n
“I’ve looked up to these guys since I was a kid and just being in their presence and to compete against them for the title, I’ve learned so much and [I’m] just so grateful and so honoured right now.<\/p>\n
“My short game was great, I definitely saved myself in that department. I was pretty average off the tee, but golf is a game of imperfection and today that was a sign of that.”<\/p>\n
Smylie added: “My mum and dad have been with me every step of the way. I saw my mum in the corner there, tearing up before I holed that last putt – so everyone who has been on this journey with me, they know how hard I’ve worked to be here and hopefully this is just the start of good things to come.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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