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.
A wet Queenstown summer has produced juicier than normal rough for the New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort this week and it’s already forced hometown favourite Ben Campbell into a strategy change as he tries to win his national title for the first time.
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.
Ryan Peake’s return to the New Zealand Open and the alpine beauty of Queenstown marks a year on from the start of an inspiring golf story, and he’s hoping to write another chapter.
PGA TOUR stars Kevin Na and Nick Watney will compete in back-to-back New Zealand events, including the inaugural Handa Japan-Australasia Championship at Royal Auckland & Grange, bringing world-class golf to Kiwi fans.
Smylie, the BMW Australian PGA champion, comes into the week with a 512-point lead, but he can be overtaken, or alternatively he can secure the order of merit title, with 760 points to be awarded to the winner on Sunday.
After playing tourist for a couple of days, David Micheluzzi was down to business at the New Zealand Open on Monday and is backing his putting to put him into contention at Millbrook Resort this weekend.
A runner-up in New Zealand five years ago when finishing two shots behind fellow Aussie Brad Kennedy, Herbert is excited to be making his way back to a world renowned region to contest a national open.
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.
Takahiro Hataji has created history with his first victory as a professional, becoming the first player from Japan to win the New Zealand Open in its 103-year history.
Australian Golf Digest
