Michael Sim earns top 20 finish in NZ Open

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Aberdeen-born Michael Sim achieved a top 20 finish in the New Zealand Open at Queenstown today while Peter Smith, also from the North-east, sagged over the last two rounds - well he is 56 years old - to finish 52nd.

Sim, pictured, raised at Westhill until his parents decided to emigrate to Australia when he was eight, shot rounds of 73, 67, 69 and 71 for seven-under-par 280.
Smith, born at Udny Station, Aberdeenshire and the son of a former leading Highland League football striker,  had scores of 70, 69, 74 and 75 for one-over 288. A former British PGA senior champion and past winner of the Northern Open, the one time Murcar Links GC pro was the oldest man in the NZ Open field.
Aussie Matthew Griffin holed a birdie putt on the last green to win the title by one shot with a total of 267 (70-65-65-67). He pipped the long-time leader, Japan's Hideto Tanihara (69-66-63-70) who started the final round with a two-stroke lead.

NEW ZEALAND OPEN
The Hills and Millbrook courses, Queenstown
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 287 (3x72, 2x71) 
267 M Griffin (Aus) 70 65 65 67
268 H Tanihara (Jap) 69 66 63 70
273 M Hendry (NZ) 71 71 66 65, S Sonoda (Jap) 68 70 67 68

SCOTTISH SCORES
280 M Sim 73 67 69 71 (T19)
288 P Smith 70 69 74 75 (52nd)