Nick Flanagan has jumpstarted round three of the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open with a hole-in-one at Millbrook Resort.

Monday qualifying into the tournament hosted at The Hills and Millbrook Resort, Flanagan fired rounds of 68, 68 to make the cut on the number.

Out early on Saturday morning, Flanagan got his day off to a great start with a hole-in-one on the 123 metre par-3 2^nd hole using his pitching wedge.

Flanagan is a former US Amateur champion, with six professional wins on his resume, including four on the Web.com Tour, which earned him a ticket into the PGA Tour.

A thumb injury, which required surgery and set him back for a couple of years, and a back injury suffered as a child, hindered his progress on golf’s most high-profile stage and he said last week that he was now trying to resurrect his career at the age of 33.

Flanagan followed up his ace with two more birdies on the front-9, which lifted him to a share of 9th place early in round three.

It was the second hole-in-one at the tournament, although neither was at the 13^th hole at Millbrook Resort where sponsor Hyundai are offering a prize of a Santa Fe SUV as part of their innovative Drive For Good initiative, to be donated to one of three charities, to be voted by the public.

Early rain has given way to calm, mild conditions in Queenstown, with scoring again expected to be low, with Australian Terry Pilkadaris leading the tournament on 15-under the card and teeing off at 12.40pm.