Golf: Campbell settles for third despite six-under round

Ben Campbell on the green. Photo / Supplied

It was a case of what might have been for Kiwi golfer Ben Campbell at the Fiji International that finished yesterday afternoon.

He had to settle for third equal, with four-time Major winner Ernie Els, after a final round six-under 66 played at sumptuous Natadola Bay.

Campbell finished two shots behind winner Gaganjeet Bhullar from India and one behind Queenslander Anthony Quayle, who shot a course record 63 but ultimately finished as a gallant runner-up.

For Campbell, his third round 77 was the disappointing part of an excellent week's golf but the Masterton pro was in a positive mood after his final putt dropped. "It was close. Yesterday was the killer so to bounce back today was good. My game feels really close to getting the win, whether that is next week or whenever that is," Campbell said.

"It was a solid finish and will probably wrap up my Asian Tour card which will be nice. To turn the corner from one day shooting five-over to shooting six-under I think will give me a bit of confidence."

Birdies on his opening three holes put the disappointment of Saturday's 77 behind Campbell. He played solid par golf until the par-5 ninth, when a superb lob wedge set up his fourth birdie of the round and a share of the lead at 10-under with Bhullar.

Els began with an eagle on the first and birdie on the third. He dropped a shot at the fifth before joining many in the field who birdied the par-5 ninth.

Els moved a shot behind Campbell with a birdie on 11 as the race heated up. Australians Quayle, Jarryd Felton, Jake McLeod and 2014 champion Steven Jeffress were all within two shots halfway through their rounds.

The battle at the top was full of intrigue. Quayle joined Campbell with an eagle on 12, Bhullar sunk a monster 40-footer for par on 10 to keep his one shot lead before Campbell just missed a birdie opportunity on 11.

Campbell made a clutch birdie on 15 to join Quayle and Bhullar at 12-under but the 16th hole proved pivotal for Campbell as he bogeyed the 344m par four to drop behind Quayle and Bhullar by a shot.

Quayle eagled the par-5, 17th hole to move a shot ahead playing 18 where he missed a makeable putt for birdie which proved crucial as Bhullar chipped in for an eagle on 17 and a par on 18 gave him a one-shot win.

Fiji International, Natadola Bay
274 Gaganjeet Bhullar, India
275 Anthony Quayle, Australia
276 Ernie Els, South Africa
276 Ben Campbell, New Zealand
278 Jarryd Felton, Australia
also
286 Mark Brown, NZ (18th)
286 Harry Bateman, NZ (18th)