Elvis Smylie has broken through for his first win as a professional golfer, clinching the Western Australian Open title in a thrilling play-off.
The 22-year-old Queenslander, son of Australian tennis great Liz Smylie, won the Roy Paxton Bowl with a birdie on the first play-off hole at Mandurah Country Club ahead of Jak Carter.
Long touted as a future star of the game, Smylie’s first triumph comes three years after he turned professional and a year after linking with Ritchie Smith, who also coaches Hannah Green – winner of the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea on Sunday.
South Australian Carter held a one shot lead over Smylie at 18-under heading into Sunday’s final round with the tournament played in horrendous conditions, amid flooding and howling winds.
While Carter got off to a slow start that included two early bogeys, Smylie and 2016 WA Open champion Curtis Luck were tied at the top before a birdie on the par-5 14th sent Smylie ahead.
Although he dropped a shot on the 16th, Luck followed suit on the water-logged 17th hole.
Torrential rain and wind hammered competitors in the WA Open at Mandurah. PHOTO: Travis Hayto
Carter then forced the play-off when he hit his second shot on the par-4 18th to a metre and drained the birdie putt to join Smylie at 19-under.
In the first play-off hole, also at the 18th, Carter’s tee shot missed the mark and his second shot landed in the bunker, forcing him to eventually settle for bogey.
Smylie piped his first down the right-centre and almost holed his wedge, spinning it to two feet before he tapped in for the win.
“It means absolutely everything,” Smylie said of the victory.
“I’ve been busting my backside out here for the last three years and to be able to get my first win, it means absolutely everything.”
Smylie’s victory comes after he finished second at last week’s WA PGA tournament to lead the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia order of merit after three events.
The order of merit winner earns an invitation to the British Open, where Smylie earned his first start this year through qualifying, which was his first major.
“We’ll just see what the rest of the year looks like. I mean, obviously I’m playing some really good golf,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to Adelaide next week and then being back home in Queensland for the Queensland PGA, so there’s a lot to look forward to and I’m excited to see what happens.”
