Australian Smyth wins first Asian title at Yeangder TPC

Travis Smyth celebrates after winning the Yeangder TPC title at Linkou International Golf and Country Club in New Taipei City on Sunday
Taipei (AFP) – Travis Smith fired for second in a row six-under-66 to fulfill his Asian Tour ambition after coming home with one stroke off the field at Yeangder TPC Stadium in Taiwan on Sunday.
The Australian, who has been a regular presence on the leaderboard at this year’s Asian Tour, took a final win with 19 points under a total of 269.
Smith finished two shots away from defending champion and home favorite Lee Chih-Bo of Taiwan at Linkou International Golf and Country Club.
Taiwanese Wang Wei-hsuan (67), Malaysian Nicholas Fong (67), American Berry Henson (68) and Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren (69) finished third in fourth on under 14.
The 27-year-old Smith came painfully close to winning the England International Championship for the Asian Tour series at Slalley Hall in June when he was overtaken by Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe by one stroke.
But the night leader went even better on Sunday after a sparkling eight-footed run, with the only flaw being the double bogey at the tricky 15th minute.
Smith, the 11th first-time winner of the Asian Tour this season, moves up to sixth in the Order of Merit after becoming the only Australian to win the Yeangder TPC since his debut in 2010.
Taiwanese youth Hsieh Cheng Wei – who on Friday became the youngest male player on a major professional golf round, aged 14 years and 33 days – faded over the weekend with rounds 78 and 74 to finish in seven. On an equal footing.