Ben Campbell’s strong finish claims Hong Kong Open
Ben Campbell – image Paul Lakatos
In what is no doubt the most significant moment in the golfing career of New Zealander Ben Campbell, the 32 year old Queenstown based golfer holed a 15-foot putt at the final hole of the Hong Kong Open to defeat Australia’s Cam Smith and secure the US$360,000 first prize.
Always a considerable talent, Campbell has won only one tournament on a recognised tour since turning professional in 2012, that being at the New Zealand PGA Championship in 2018, but he has been plagued by injury and illness especially early in his career.
Today he produced a final round of 66 including birdies at his final two holes to edge out the prolific winner on the LIV Tour and the 2022 Open Champion Smith.
Campbell a former runner-up in both the New Zealand and Australian Amateur Championships, now moves to 4th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit for 2023.
Campbell had arrived on the final tee today tied with playing partners, Smith, and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai.
Smith was forced to lay up and could only make par while Phachara three-putted for his bogey to finish tied for 3rd.
“It’s good to finally get the monkey off the back and yeah, sort of just battling away all day,” said Campbell referring to his first Asian Tour victory.
“Sort of didn’t get off to the greatest of starts and swing wasn’t feeling that great. Sort of went back to a few close losses and wrote a few notes down in my yardage book last night, and really used them on those last four or five holes.
“It was getting a bit tight in the swing and just from those past experiences managed to, I think, you know, put a couple of nice swings coming down the stretch which really helped.”