Smith lands top performance award

Published 11:00am 16 December 2022

Words by Nick Crockford

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.

Wesley Hinton receiving his awards in 2022 from Cameron Smith

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.

Cameron Smith during a special clinic he hosted at Wantima Country Club last week.

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