Golf: Smail earns British open invite

New Zealand golfer David Smail has qualified for his second major of the year after finishing runner-up in his latest tour event in Japan yesterday.

Smail finished three shots behind rising star Ryi Ishikawa in the Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open with the top four players qualifying for next month's British Open at Turnberry in Scotland.

The kiwi qualified for last week's US Open near New York where he missed the cut.

Smail shot a 10-under par total of 278 after finishing with an even par 72 in the final round.

He moved into contention with a brilliant third round eight-under 64 at the Yomuri Country Club with his second placing lifting him to third on the Japan Golf Tour moneylist.

It is the sixth time that Smail has qualified for the Open Championship. A tie for 67th in 2005 has been his best performance.

The Waikato golfer missed the cut last year. Smail is New Zealand's highest ranked golfer, ranked 85th in the world although his second placing in Japan will lift him further.

Smail will bring the number of New Zealanders entered for the Open to five including Mark Brown, Michael Campbell, Tim Wilkinson and Josh Geary while rookie professional James Gill, a member of New Zealand Golf's Eisenhower Trophy team last year, is through to the final qualifying phase next week.

The Open will be held at the Ailsa links course at Turnberry from July 16-19.

- NZPA