Golf: NZ golfers succeed at tournaments around world

New Zealand, led by David Smail, have made their mark in tournaments around the world.

Smail was pipped in a playoff in Japan for the second successive week.

A three-time winner in Japan, Smail finished in a three-way tie in the Japan Golf Championship at Shishido Hills Country Club.

He shot seven-under 273 in regulation before a par by Kazuhiko Hosokawa on the second extra hole was enough for the Japanese player to secure victory.

Smail last week also finished in a share of second after a three-way playoff.

Sir Bob Charles finished second in a superb performance in the senior Wales Open yesterday.

Charles, 69, bettered his age in the opening round and finished with an even-par 207 for 54 holes to share second place with Ireland's Denis O'Sullivan, five shots behind winner Carl Mason, of England.

Charles was always at the head of the leaderboard after his opening-round 68 and remained in a share of second after two rounds before hanging tough in testing conditions in the final round to collect $112,000 for his efforts.

Michael Campbell marked his return to competition after winning the US Open a fortnight ago by finishing in a share of 25th in the European Open in Dublin.

Across the Atlantic, Craig Perks enjoyed his best finish of the year when he shared 13th in the Western Open in Illinois.

Perks ended a string of missed cuts with a strong performance at the Western, the oldest of the PGA Tour events aside from the majors.

He fired a final round of one-over 72 for a 72-hole tally of four-under 280, 10 shots behind the winner, Jim Furyk, and picked up US$96,666.

- NZPA