JACK Newton Celebrity Classic regular Kristie Smith broke through for her maiden ALPG Tour win when she fired a nine-under final-round 64 to win the Royal Canberra Ladies Classic yesterday.
The 21-year-old daughter of former Australian touring pro Wayne Smith stormed home to beat overnight leader Katherine Hull from Queensland.
The West Australian started the final round of the 54-hole tournament four shots behind Hull but surged to finish at 16 under.
Smith, who qualified for this year's Ladies European Tour, finished two strokes clear of Hull and three ahead of another Queenslander, Sarah-Jane Smith.
Tuncurry's Sarah Kemp was outright third at eight under par heading into the final round but failed to make any inroads on the final day and dropped back to fifth.
In New Zealand, young American Robert Gates held off a last-round challenge from Queenslander Andrew Dodt to win the New Zealand Open yesterday by one shot.
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