Golf: Young Kiwis have to settle for second

Cecilia Cho had an extraordinary week at the Australian amateur championships. Photo / Richard Robinson

New Zealand golfers Cecilia Cho and Ben Campbell have finished as runners-up in the Srixon Australian Amateur Championships in Perth yesterday.

Neither young player was able to replicate their extraordinary scoring from Tuesday's semifinals where they made 16 birdies between them, beaten yesterday by Australians Stacey Keating and Matt Jager at Lake Karrinyup Country Club.

Fifteen-year-old Cho, six-down after 18 holes, was unable to stem the charge as Keating (Victoria) reeled off four more birdies in the afternoon to run out emphatic winner 10 and 8.

Campbell (Masterton) was three-down at the halfway stage.

The Wairarapa player grabbed the 20th hole to reduce the margin but Jager then won four holes in a row, three of them with birdies, to put the game out of reach, finally prevailing 8 and 7.

It proved a bridge too far for the two New Zealanders who enjoyed an excellent week.

Cho was incredible in her first international event since gaining her citizenship.

She became just the third Kiwi to win the Australian Strokeplay with some stunning golf, and made her mark including winning three matches on Tuesday.

"Cecilia has been extraordinary all week. Her golf in the strokeplay was wonderful. She did not find her feet in the matchplay until that semifinal but I think that at her age, the demands of three matches yesterday took its toll a bit today," said New Zealand manager Valerie Hancox.