The Masters can wait.
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Shellharbour’s rising talent Travis Smyth is expected to turn professional after finishing tied for 24th at two over at the Asia Pacific Amateur Championships in New Zealand.
And while the golden ticket to the world’s most famous tournament eluded him – the winner gaining automatic entry to the US Masters next year – Smyth can take confidence in beginning his professional career.
Smyth has already claimed the Northern Territory PGA this year, beating the previous titleholder and fellow Illawarra pro Jordan Zunic, as well as making the quarter-finals of the prestigious US Amateur in August.
In the end, Smyth was 16 shots off Lin Yuxin, who at -14, led a Chinese trifecta at the tournament at Royal Wellington on Sunday.
Australia Shae Wools-Cobb, who set a scorching eight-under 63 on the opening day, finished tied for sixth at five-under.
Smyth hit three birdies in the final six holes to claw his way back up the leaderboard, after making bogeys at the 10th and 12th holes.
Lin will compete at the Masters and British Open.
“I’m very, very happy I got the chance to win this event and play two majors,” Lin said, who trailed Zhang for much of the round. “I’m very proud of myself. It means a lot to me to play in the Masters and The Open next year. It’s a great experience.”
Meanwhile, Zunic finished with a flurry at the Queensland Open on Sunday, carding a three-under 68 to be one-under and tied for 15th for the tournament.
Wollongong’s Lincoln Tighe had missed the cut.