Connor Syme Wins Australian Amateur

Scotland’s Connor Syme is the 2016 men’s Australian Amateur champion. The rising Fyfe star said he couldn’t wait to get back to play this year’s Emirates Australian Open after seeing off Sydney’s Travis Smyth 3&2 after an epic 34-hole battle. The two traded birdies for the best part of eight hours and, in the final analysis, it was Syme’s steadiness and superior driving that held sway. He had birdie putts on 15 and 16 that would have ended the match, but both shaved the cup and left the match on Smyth’s putter. The St Michael’s ace gave himself a 2m putt on the 16th to win the hole and push the match to a 35th, but it slid by and the Scotsman rejoiced. “I can’t believe it, to be honest. It’s been a great week and it hasn’t quite sunk in yet but it’s absolutely fantastic,” Syme said. “We both played some pretty fair golf and Travis is a great competitor, so I’m very happy to have come out on the right side of it. “I cannot wait to get back here for the Open – I love this place.” Smyth played some miraculous shots to stay in touch after Syme extended his halfway 3-up lead to five with birdie on the 8th hole. He birdied the par-4 12th from deep in the left trees, then went within centimetres of an ace on the 13th to keep in the hunt. A birdie and win on the 14th hole narrowed the margin to three, but the New South Wales state team member ran out of holes.