Golf: Smail earns British Open invite

New Zealand golfer David Smail has qualified for the British Open next month after finishing tied for second in the latest event on the Japan Tour.

Smail shot a closing round of one-under-par 71 at the $1.42 million Mizuno Open in Kasaoka yesterday to book his place in the field at Hoylake on July 20-23.

That left him with a tournament card of 11-under 277 to share second with Japan's Tatsuhiko Ichihara, three shots shy of the winner, SK Ho, of Korea.

His third top 10 finish this year in seven tournaments earned him $120,690 but more importantly confirmed his presence in the British Open.

He is the second New Zealander confirmed for the British Open after 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell.

- NZPA