Cam Smith and Ben Campbell narrowly miss in Riyadh
Cam
Cam Smith – image Paul Lakatos Asian Tour
Smith has staged a final-round comeback in what is the final event of his 2024 golfing year for the Asian Tour, narrowly missing his first victory of the year when going down in a playoff to Joaquin Niemann.
Smith’s final round of 64 at the Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia saw him catch Niemann and American Caleb Surratt and then wait while Niemann and Surratt, playing in the day’s final group, completed their round.
Smith was one behind and finished his day when the final pair played the final hole but they offered Smith a lifeline when they both dropped a shot for all three to finish at 21 under.
All three would birdie the first hole of the playoff before Niemann hit his pitch to the same hole the second time around to less than a foot from the hole and when Surratt and Smith missed makable birdie chances the title went to the Chilean.
For Smith it was his 5th runner-up finish of the year, but the win which has proved elusive since August of 2023 again went begging.
New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, chasing a win in the International Series rankings and a spot in the Liv Golf League next season, staged a valiant bid with weekend rounds of 64 and 64 to finish just one shot from the playoff.
Campbell finishes his season in 3rd place in the rankings behind Niemann and Uihlein and runner-up on the Asian Tour Order of Merit with earnings of US$1.15 million.
Matt Jones finished 9th this week while Travis Smyth was the next best of the Australasians when he tied for 17th.
Smyth finished as the leading Australian on the 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit in 8th position.
