A sensational late Saturday afternoon surge from New Zealand’s Daniel Hiller has handed him a golden opportunity to claim the 105th New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort.
Stunning practice-round weather gave way to rain on the opening day of the championship, as temperatures plummeted and forced players to play improvised and resourceful golf in challenging conditions at Millbrook Resort near Queenstown.
Defending NZ Open champion Ryan Peake is not normally one to get too emotional, but he admits his return this week to Millbrook Resort, the scene of his life-changing win 12 months ago, has provoked plenty of feelings.
It’s a huge week in the Order of Merit race with 760 points going to the winner – four times the points on offer most weeks on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season.
Sure to attract plenty of support from the local fans, the contingent includes Kazuma Kobori, Michael Hendry, Nick Voke, Kerry Mountcastle, Josh Geary and Tyler Hodge – all established winners on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
Japanese golf sensation Ryo Ishikawa will headline a strong contingent of players from Japan competing in the New Zealand Open when the tournament tees off of on February 27 at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown.
Kensei Hirata, in the form of his life, won the Shinhan Donghae Open to make it two wins in two weeks after a fantastic final-day duel with Australia’s Travis Smyth.
Jones has recorded nine top-10 finishes to be sixth on the Japan Golf Tour moneylist and qualify for the season-ending Golf Nippon Series JT Cup next week.
Australian Golf Digest
