Golf: Victorious Smail grabs eagle on final hole

Hamilton's David Smail eagled the final hole for an eight-under 64 to clinch a two-stroke victory at the 140 million yen ($2.34 million) Casio Open in Ibusuki, Japan, yesterday.

And at the Australian PGA in Queensland, two players decided to share the title after one hole of a playoff.

Starting the day four strokes off the pace, Smail sank six birdies without a bogey before consolidating his victory with the eagle for a rain-shortened three-round total of 16-under 200.

Overnight leader Brendan Jones, of Australia, shot a 70 and had to be satisfied with the runner-up spot on 202, followed by Japan's Tsukasa Watanabe on 205. "It was really good that both my playing partners hit the same line before me, so I could have a good read of it," Smail said of his three-metre eagle putt on the par-five hole.

Smail received the winner's cheque of 21 million yen, which was reduced by 25 per cent after heavy rain scrapped the third round yesterday.

It was a second title on the Japan Tour for the 32-year-old, who made his debut here in 1997. Smail captured his first at the Japan Open, the Tour's biggest title, a month ago.

Smail turned professional in 1992. He is based in Chiba, near Tokyo, with his wife, daughter and son.

Meanwhile, West Australian Jarrod Moseley and New South Welshman Peter Lonard agreed to be joint champions in a dramatic end to the Australian PGA at the Hyatt Coolum resort.

Lonard holed a pressure putt to force a playoff with Moseley, who had held a five-shot lead going into the final round.

After both parred the first sudden-death hole, they held discussion with the organisers and despite calls from the gallery for them to keep playing, they agreed to split the prizemoney and the title.

Their other options were to play another hole in poor light or return this morning and continue the contest.

Moseley (65, 66, 67, 73) and Lonard (65, 68, 70, 68) finished the 72 holes tied on 271, at 17 under.

Victorian Stuart Appleby staged a marvellous comeback after a two-over opening round to climb into third place on 14-under, one shot ahead of Greg Norman, who thrilled the huge gallery with some vintage golf.

The best New Zealand was Greg Turner on 279 (66, 71, 71, 71), eight shots from the winners.

- AGENCIES