Smith lands top performance award

Cameron Smith, who learned to play golf at Wantima Country Club in Brendale, last night added another award to his remarkable collection in 2022.

The former Bray Park resident was named Male Athlete of the Year at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Sport Performance Awards in Sydney.

He beat fellow nominees skateboarder Kieran Wooley, swimmer Zac Stubblety-Cook and snowboarder Scott James to the title.

Smith’s accolade comes at the end of a stunning year in which he won five tournaments and rose from outside the top 20 to number two in the world.

The ex-Pine Rivers State High School student won his first major, the 150^th Open Championship at St Andrews, lifting the famous trophy after a superb finish.

He already had the “fifth major” the Players Championship and Sentry Tournament of Champions, which he won with a record low score in early January.

After the historic Open Championship, Smith won the Australian PGA for a third time and the Chicago leg of the LIV golf series.

His demanding schedule only ended last week with two days hosting the Cameron Smith Junior Classic at Wantima, last week.

The winners were announced at a gala ceremony in Sydney with Australian Sports Commission chief executive Kieran Perkins praising the nominees.

He said the judges considered fair play, respect, integrity, sportsmanship, community involvement and role modelling.

2022 ASPAs Award winners:

• Female Athlete of the Year: Jessica Stenson, Athletics Australia
• Female Para-Athlete of the Year: Emily Petricola, AusCycling
• Male Athlete of the Year: Cam Smith, Golf Australia
• Male Para-Athlete of the Year: Ben Tudhope, Snow Australia
• Coach of the Year: Peter McNiel and Kate Blamey, Olympic Winter Institute of Australia
• Emerging Athlete of the Year: Donnell Wallam, Netball Australia
• High Performance Program of the Year: Athletics Australia
• Award for Leadership: Petria Thomas, Commonwealth Games Australia
• Team of the Year: Women’s Rugby 7s, Rugby Australia
• Community Engagement Award: Kyle Vander-Kuyp, Athletics Australia
• Win Well Award: Victorian Institute of Sport
• Sport Volunteer of the Year Award: Nicole Williams, Cricket Australia