Giles to follow Shenzhen with Sydney

SHENZHEN, China – Matt Giles made one final push Sunday to try to claim the Asian Amateur title, but came up short. Giles, a first-team All-American at USC, started the final round nine strokes off the pace, but made birdies on seven of his first 11 holes.

He was 8 under par for the tournament before hitting a 7-iron into the water on the par-3 13th for a double bogey, then made bogey on the par-5 16th. He finished with a 68 (31-37) for a 5-under 283 at Mission Hills’ World Cup Course.

Now that the Asian Amateur is over, Giles embarks on a hectic schedule.

After a brief stop at school in Los Angeles, Giles will head to Sydney for the Australian Masters.

Giles will leave China on Monday afternoon, go to class Tuesday and Thursday, then leave Thursday evening for Sydney.

“My schedule’s a joke,” Giles said Sunday. “I have to go to class. If I didn’t, my professors would kill me. I get in Sydney Saturday morning, so it gives me a couple days to get over jet lag and get some practice in, then try and battle Tiger.”