Queenslander Cameron Smith completed an extraordinary turnaround to win the Australian Men’s Amateur Championship against Victorian Geoff Drakeford at Commonwealth Golf Club on Sunday.
As many a five strokes down on Commonwealth member Drakeford at various stages, Smith fought back to win his maiden Australian Amateur title with a 3 and 2 victory.
“I’m gobsmacked, I can’t even believe I came back from that,” Smith said of his matchplay victory.
“I played some good shots and put him under pressure and holed some putts. I thought if I could him get down the last hole I was in with a shot but turns out I got it done before that which was quite nice.
“It’s definitely a good start to 2013 and hopefully this form can carry through to the next few tournaments.”
The women’s title was won by Western Australia’s Minjee Lee 6 and 5 over South Australia-based Korean Jenny Lee.
Minjee was in control for much of the match and the Royal Fremantle member went tone better than her narrow loss in the final in 2011.
“It feels amazing. It’s such an honour to win this tournament. It’s been a long week so it’s a great reward,” said Lee, the current US Girls’ Junior Champion.
“I felt I could always get back up if I was down.”
Lee earns an exemption into next month’s Women’s Australian Open at Royal Canberra Golf Club.
“It’s an LPGA event so it will have a great field and I’m really looking forward to it,” she said.