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Kiwi Daniel Hiller will enter the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sports, starting on Thursday, with some advice from his country’s No.1 men’s golfer firmly in his mind.
While Ryan Fox is unable to be at Millbrook Resort as he commits to his first full year on the PGA TOUR, his influence remains strong with young New Zealanders such as Hillier, a winner on the DP World Tour for the first time in 2023 at the British Masters.
Fox’s tip to Hillier is simple and current for any week on tour – don’t change anything in his game to suit the golf course, no matter how spectacular the setting.
“There will be golf courses out there that suit me more than the others,” Hillier, the world No.150, said.
“I have played pretty well here in the past so if I play my game, and have a solid plan that I can trust and execute, hopefully you will see my name near the top of the leaderboard.”
In four starts on the DP World Tour in 2004, Hillier has made three cuts with a best finish of T23 at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship.
He was equal 12th in his home open last year, five shots behind the winner, Brendan Jones, after shooting four rounds in the 60s.
“My form has been OK. I haven’t played my best stuff for the first part of the year,” he said at today’s pre-tournament media conference.
“I know there is a long year ahead so I am not too fazed how the year has started. It would be nice for everything to click this week as it is obviously an exciting week ahead.
“The course is pure as always which is great. The rough is up a little bit but I did not spend much time in it today so hopefully I can keep that up.”
Hillier was part of an interesting practice group pairing on Tuesday, joining rookie Kazuma Kobori who has already claimed three Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia victories this year to lead the Order of Merit and have one hand on a 2024/25 DP World Tour card.
“He is really impressive to watch and you can see why he has done so well in Aussie this year,” Hillier said of his countryman.
“You can see he wants to get his hands on the trophy as well. I’m playing the first two rounds with him as well so we will be seeing a bit of each other.”
The star NZ duo will be on the Remarkables course on Thursday morning followed by the Coronet layout on Friday afternoon.
Photo: Daniel Hillier at the 2023 NZ Open presented by Sky Sports. Credit: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
The only place to watch every upcoming event on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia live is on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
No one ever described Tiger Woods’ game as ‘consistent’. Given Woods held the No.1 world ranking for 683 weeks – including 281 weeks straight – and made 142 consecutive cuts on the PGA TOUR, perhaps we should have.
‘Consistent’, though, is just not very sexy.
It verges on boring.
Ask golfers to sum up Tiger Woods in one word and you’re more likely to hear ‘thrilling’, ‘explosive’, ‘fearless’ and ‘box office’. (Yes, I know, that’s two words.)
But ask those who have spent the summer finishing second to Kazuma Kobori on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and you invariably get the same response: ‘Consistent’.
For a player with three wins in his first 10 starts as a professional – Hello, Mr Woods – and all but a lock for a DP World Tour card heading into this week’s New Zealand Open, it’s not meant as a slight.
It’s simply an admission that from tee-to-green he is all but flawless… and that he makes more putts than he misses.
In statistics provided by Matt Green of GreenForm Golf, Kobori is 109-under par this season in just nine events. (The next best is Brett Coletta at 86-under par.)
His average-to-par per round of -3.41 is 1.45 shots better than Coletta and he is ranked first in Back 9 Strokes Gained with +1.58.
It has been the hallmark of an amateur career that includes wins at the Australian Amateur, PGA Tour of Australasia Q School, Western Amateur in the US and individual honours at the Eisenhower Trophy… all in the past 14 months.
So, when those who have seen the 22-year-old play from close quarters – Ashley Lau, Jeffrey Guan and Kerry Mountcastle – describe his game as ‘consistent’, Kobori takes it as a compliment.
“It’s something that I’ve always had actually, consistency,” says Kobori, who is coached by Golf New Zealand National Coach, Jay Carter.
“As an amateur growing up, I was never one to really shoot the lights out. I was always cruising around 2-under, 3-under and over the course of a tournament I might get just under 10-under.
“Some weeks that’s OK, some weeks you get blown out by 15.
“It’s something that I have always had and for that to turn into a strength is very cool to see for me.”
Those who veer ever so slightly from the script use words that any rookie professional would love to be associated with.
3 x #WebexPlayersSeries Champion 🏆🏆🏆
— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) February 11, 2024
Congratulations Kazuma Kobori 👏 pic.twitter.com/JoiOzwtDJi
Reigning Order of Merit champion David Micheluzzi – who also won three times in his breakout season last year – saw a side to Kobori that few others have when they were paired together in the final round of the Victorian PGA Championship at Moonah Links.
On that Sunday, Kobori began the day six shots clear but, in just his second start after turning professional, shot 77 to Micheluzzi’s 68 to end the day three back.
Now in his fifth year since turning pro himself, Micheluzzi saw enough to label Kobori’s game in a way that should also serve him well.
“Discipline.”
It’s a quality that the 22-year-old hopes to tap into again this week at the Millbrook Resort.
Low amateur in a top-10 finish 12 months ago, Kobori knows that Millbrook presents something of a different challenge to anything he has faced thus far this summer.
“It’s going to require a bit more discipline,” admitted the winner of Webex Players Series events at Cobram Barooga Golf Club, Rosebud Country Club and Castle Hill Country Club.
“There are certain places (at Millbrook) where if you miss it, I don’t care if you have the best short game in the world, you’re not getting up and down.
“I’ve talked to my coach, Jay Carter, and we’ve figured out a plan for this week and how we can prepare best.”
But perhaps the final word – literally – belongs to the person who knows his game best.
Although they are rarely in the same postcode these days, Momoka and Kazuma Kobori have grown up playing against each other.
They went head to head first on the Charles Tour in New Zealand and now the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, with bragging rights split.
So how does Momoka – and anyone who saw his putt on the 72nd hole at Rosebud – describe his game in one word?
“Clutch.”
Much more Tiger-like.
Photo: Kurt Thomson/Kurtogram
The only place to watch every upcoming event on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia live is on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
US-based Kiwi golfer Tim Wilkinson is on a voyage into the unknown when he tees off in the 103rd New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown this week.
The 45-year-old left-hander is making a return to the game after more than two years out following injury and surgery, choosing to make his competitive return at the New Zealand Open, a co-sanctioned event with the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour, in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour.
Wilkinson, a former leading amateur, turned professional two decades ago, joining the Nationwide Tour in 2005 and progressing to the PGA Tour in 2008, where he had a meteoric start, finishing third in the Zurich Classic and runner-up in the Texas Open.
The Florida-based Kiwi, who has mixed his professional life on the PGA and Korn Ferry Tours, has been hampered by injuries that have tested his resolve.
His knee issues have been the most debilitating, rendering him unable to swing or workout without pain, choosing to get a full repair done, which has required extended time out. Worse, his surgery was delayed five months because of a covid spike in his home city of Jacksonville.
“I’ve lost a lot of muscle and strained an abductor which caused a lot of inflammation for a long time. And there’s no muscle regrowth nor mobility,” said Wilkinson, who has always prided himself on his fitness regime.
“I’ve worked hard on recovery although I still do not have full mobility back by any means. But I need to get going if I want to keep playing. I can do regular activities but not hit balls to the amount required.
“Coming back to the New Zealand Open was an opportunity to come home – it’s been five years – and an opportunity to play competitively.”
He has not contested the New Zealand Open since 2019 and he was tied for 11th 2018.
Wilkinson has not played the revamped and extended Millbrook Resort course, and is putting no pressure on himself next week.
“I could be pushing it slightly but I just have no idea how I am going to play. I can hit all the balls I want but until I tee it up in a tournament, I have no idea. It will be a good baseline to see how I am playing.
‘’Four rounds in the 60s would be good. Play solidly and be composed but I am not getting ahead of myself. But the drive is still there to play at the highest level.’’
Wilkinson will be among the field of 156 players who will all be looking to claim their share of the $2m NZD prize purse in the 103rd New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport which tees off on Thursday at Millbrook Resort, Queenstown.
Live coverage will be available on Fox Sports via Foxtel and Kayo
For more information about the New Zealand Open please visit nzopen.com
Cancer-survivor Michael Hendry firmly believes he can add a second New Zealand Open title to his resume when the 103rd event tees off in Queenstown next week.
Now a cancer-free, leaner, fitter Hendry – more worldly for his experiences – is confident he can play a major hand at the New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort. And what has changed, should he not attain his goals, is that he is at peace with his journey to return to the game he loves.
His last biopsy has come back negative of any trace of leukaemia and now he is turning his attention to achievement on the golf course.
“Success nine months ago would have been just being able to turn up,” said Hendry.
“Fortunately, the hard work I have done has put me in a position where I feel I have a genuine chance to win the tournament if things click.”
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Photo: Courtesy of Photosport NZ
As he did on Sunday at Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort, Daniel Gale may be timing his charge on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit to perfection.
On a marathon final day of the Webex Players Series Hunter Valley where he and Victorian amateur Phoenix Campbell went toe-to-toe over 34 holes, Gale’s birdies on the 70th and 72nd holes would ultimately prove the difference, finishing one clear of the Queensland PGA champion.
Like Campbell, Gale was chasing his second win of the season after taking out the Tailor-Made Building Services NT PGA back in August.
From that point, one of the three cards on the DP World Tour was an obvious target, a target that is now more clearly in view with just two events left in the season.
With three-time winner Kazuma Kobori consolidating his place as the notional No.1 with a third-place finish, Gale’s victory elevated him seven spots to fourth and positioned to graduate to the DP World Tour.
“The ultimate end goal is to win,” said Gale, who boasts the Sandbelt Invitational with his two Tour wins this summer.
“I’ve set goals numerous times in the past and plans change and all that. I just want to go out there and play golf and wherever it leaves me at the end of the season, it leaves me.
“Obviously, I want to play somewhere. I want to get one of those DP World Tour spots.
“At the end of the day, I can only just play my best golf, and wherever that leaves me, it leaves me.”
Players are enjoying a week off this week as preparations for the $NZ2 million New Zealand Open at the Millbrook Resort ramp up.
Given the prize money on offer, it is the event that can reshape the final top three on the Order of Merit.
In what will be his first event on home soil since turning professional last November, Kobori is eager to cement his status on the DP World Tour later this year.
“I am going to take some rest, I really need it, because it is going to be a big week next week,” Kobori conceded.
“Two courses, so that means double practice rounds. So going to have to be well rested and I’ll be ready to fire.”
With three wins and a third from his past five starts, Kobori has climbed 756 in the Official World Golf Ranking to a career high of 407th.
He knows that it has taken more than a one-off win to be so well positioned with two events to play.
“I won the first one and I think I was sitting like seventh or so,” Kobori said.
“Then won the week after that and it bumped me up to second and the more you win, the more cushion you have, if that makes sense.
“Just makes it easier but you kind of get used to what it takes and then you just go out there and give it your all.”
The predicted head-to-head battle for the Webex Players Series Hunter Valley eventuated on Sunday, with a three-way tussle eventually seeing Daniel Gale triumph after holing a curling birdie putt at the 72nd on Sunday.
The 27-year-old reaching 19-under-par to edge out amateur Phoenix Campbell by one shot, with Kazuma Kobori in third alone another shot back.
Gale’s win his second of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season and first in front of his parents.
“It is, they’re over there. Mum’s in tears, poor thing,” Gale said when asked if this win was extra special.
“I had a couple of buddies come up for the weekend, which is even more special because they’ve seen numerous times how good I can actually play. And to get the win in front of them as well, it’s awesome.”
Once again bogeying the 1st hole as he did in round three, Gale got the shot back at the next, with Campbell also level par as the pair reached the 6th hole and the Victorian’s two-shot advantage still intact.
Gale finding his moment to apply pressure on Campbell, with four straight birdies to close the front nine and a one shot lead after Campbell made bogey from the right trees at 9.
Things turned back in the Victorian’s favour after a remarkable second shot almost along the ground and barely missing on course commentator Paul Gow found the 10th green, with Gale making bogey at the next to Campbell’s birdie to switch places on the leaderboard.
Gale’s four coming after a heavy handed chip from the fringe that failed to stay on the putting surface at the same hole where Kobori’s charge for a fourth straight Webex Players Series title truly began.
Holing a chip from long of the 11th green, the New Zealander then holed a long left-to-right putt almost the length of the 12th green, then another at 13 to have chatter spread throughout the course.
Sitting on 17-under with five holes to play and needing more birdies, unlike the rest of 2024, Kobori failing to capitalise on his chances, with putts going close at 17 and 18 to ultimately leave him two short.
“I think I’ve used my fair share of putts, think that’s what happened. I was hitting good putts they just didn’t quite drop,” Kobori said.
Through that same stretch, it looked as if Gale’s charge might also hit a hurdle, with another bogey at 13. His five matched by Campbell, a play-off seemingly inevitable.
Campbell paring his way to the clubhouse, with Gale drawing level with a wedge to tap-in range at the par-5 16th, before his wedge and subsequent putt from 10 feet at 18 secured the win.
“I feel like those bogeys down the stretch, they hurt because I hit such good shots. And Phoenix was just rock solid, not letting anyone in,” Gale said.
“Then just hit a clutch wedge shot in there at 16 to draw level, then I thought my one into 17 was going to be good, but I think it just dug a little in the ground and didn’t fly that ridge.
“Then I had just the perfect number, obviously in the rough, which actually helped, because the greens were spinning. It was the perfect number, it came off perfect.”
Living up to Gale’s assessment of “rock solid” in the closing stages, QLD PGA winner Campbell left disappointed but also optimistic.
“To be leading 71 holes of 72 is pretty incredible for me, and to hold my nerve there towards the end … I got a lot out of this week,” Campbell said.
“I think coming second is probably the best thing that could have happened to me as well, I think it is just going to drive me to get better and keep growing. I am only looking up from here, it’s just the beginning of the journey.”
Also looking at his journey, Gale now has the DP World Tour in his sights, with a jump on the Order of Merit potentially putting one of the three cards in reach.
“The ultimate end goal is to win, I’ve set goals numerous times in the past and plans change and all that. I just want to go out there and play golf and wherever it leaves me at the end of the season, it leaves me.”
Kobori’s hot run home also helping his Order of Merit aspirations, while Elvis Smylie finished one back of the Kiwi in fourth on 14-under, with Jeffrey Guan a shot further back and one in front of Kotono Fuyaka and amateur Justice Bosio.
Earlier in the day Garth Allen claimed his first All Abilities win with a seven-over 77 giving him a two shot win over Wayne Perske.
“It feels great and I’m a local boy, so coming from Hawks Nest about an hour away and winning here, is exciting for me,” Allen said.
Meanwhile Zoe Arcus claimed Junior honours via a play-off with Jesse Linden after the pair were tied on three-over.
“It was really exciting, I was so nervous over the putt,” the 16-year-old said.
Play resumed at 7:30am Sunday at Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort, with the final group of Daniel Gale and Phoenix Campbell playing the final 16 holes of the third round to sit in first and second on the leaderboard. Campbell two in front of Gale on 17-under.
The final round of the Webex Players Series Hunter Valley getting underway at 12:30pm (AEDT) via a shotgun start, with more storms hopefully staying away after rain and lightning caused play to pause at 2:42pm Saturday.
Despite the prospect of a long day ahead of 34 holes of tournament golf, Campbell and Gale hit their straps early, with the amateur winner of the QLD PGA making a hat-trick of birdies from the sixth hole, before closing his front nine with a bogey five.
Gale getting back the shot he dropped at the 1st yesterday with birdie at the par-4 4th, before an eagle-birdie-birdie run starting at the 6th briefly gave him the lead on his own.
Campbell answering back with birdies at 11 and 12 to reach 17-under before a bogey at the par-5 16th made things level with Gale at the top.
The Victorian immediately bouncing back at 17 with birdie, while New South Welshman Gale made bogey to make it a two-shot difference heading into the final round
“I don’t think it was too important,” Campbell said of his birdie at the penultimate hole.
“I hit a good drive, really good chip.”
Perhaps benefitting from youth, and a good night’s rest, Campbell was headed for a quick bite to eat before his second round of the day.
“Feeling good, I had a really good sleep last night,” he said. “I was saying to Dean (Kinney) it’s probably the best I’ve slept all week.
Queenslander Tim Hart made the biggest move of the morning to sit a shot back from Gale after a bogey-free 63 to climb into third on 14-under-par.
Proving the old adage to beware the injured golfer, Hart was preparing for the afternoon round by getting as much rest as possible with a humid afternoon and plenty of birdies from the field on the cards.
“To be honest I’ve actually been battling a bit of a virus all week, so didn’t really do much practice before the week, which could be a good thing, just sort of rest it up,” Hart said.
“Then just came out here, a bit more calmer this week. To say the energy levels are high would be lying, they’re a bit low at the moment. I’ll go rest up and go out there this afternoon.”
Next best is a player whose presence won’t go unnoticed by the rest of the contenders, Kazuma Kobori who is chasing a fourth Webex Players Series title in 2024. The Kiwi sitting 12-under alongside Jeffrey Guan and West Australian Jess Whitting.
Japan’s Kotono Fukaya in seventh alone at 11-under, one in front of Elvis Smylie and Kade McBride.
Due to the weather delays on Saturday, Webex Players Series Hunter Valley All Abilities and Junior events were shortened to 18 holes.
Hailing from just over an hour away, Garth Allen claimed his first All Abilities win with a seven-over 77 giving him a two shot win over Wayne Perske. Last week’s winner Cameron Pollard another shot further back.
“It feels great and I’m a local boy, so coming from Hawks Nest about an hour away and winning here, is exciting for me,” Allen said.
“I’ll take it, no matter if it is 36 holes usually or 18. A win’s a win.”
Playing alongside Gale and Campbell, Zoe Arcus ended up in play-off for the Junior title with Hunter local Jesse Linden after the pair were tied on three-over.
Cromer Golf Club’s Arcus winning on the first play-off hole with a 15 foot birdie putt
“It was really exciting, I was so nervous over the putt,” the 16-year-old said.
Adding of her playing partners: “They are great golfers, just their course management and everything, and how far they hit it was crazy.”
Phoenix Campbell will again sleep on the lead of the Webex Players Series Hunter Valley after play in the third round was suspended due to storms on Saturday at Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort, with the final group two holes into their round.
Lightning in the area caused play to be halted at 2:42pm local time, with heavy rain arriving during a suspension, which was extended due to electrical activity before a final attempt to restart play at 6:15pm Saturday was officially called off at 6:05pm.
“The course was deemed unplayable at 6:05pm. Round three will resume at 7:30am Sunday,” Tournament Director Peter Welden said.
“The course Superintendent will be busy for the rest of Saturday, and in the early hours of Sunday, to get the course ready to play the third and fourth rounds.”
Round three will resume at 7:30am when players will start from where they marked their ball and finish the third round, which 19 players completed before the weather hit the Hunter Valley region.
Once the third round is completed on Sunday, the field will be redrawn, with a decision on the format of the final round to be decided on Sunday morning once an updated weather forecast is available.
The final round estimated to commence at 12:30pm (AEDT) on Sunday, with the All Abilities and Junior events to be concluded following the completion of 18 holes in the morning.
Of those that finished, five-under 65 was the best round of the day, with Josh Younger and Dylan Gardner lifting themselves into a share of 19th on six-under overall, while Kathryn Norris was one shot better in a share of 16th.
At the top of the leaderboard, Campbell sits at 13-under with a two shot advantage over playing partner Daniel Gale after starting par-par to Gale’s bogey-par start.
Gale level with Queensland amateur Justice Bosio, who is five-under on the day through nine holes. The trio of Kotono Fukaya, Tunrada Piddon and Jess Whitting another shot back on 10-under.
Campbell leaning on recent experience in December during the extended delay to remain relaxed, all the while staying ready to play when notified.
Players mixing in the clubhouse, with some choosing to simply sitting in conversation while others played pool or darts. Constant checks of the Bureau of Meteorology website and app a common theme.
“I was telling Deano (caddie Dean Kinney), Sandbelt Invitational when we came off at my home club, was probably the last time we had a bit of rain, thunderstorm delay. Relatively inexperienced, but just take it on the chin, use it tomorrow,” Campbell said.
The same event where Campbell had his most recent weather delay experience was won by Gale, who believes he might hold an advantage on a marathon final day where the pair will play 34 holes.
“I think so. I want to say I am one of the fitter blokes out here. I guess all that training, balls you hit, the big training sessions, it’s for days like tomorrow,” he said.
Whitting and Piddon joking of memories of American college events playing 36 holes in a day as preparation for Sunday, while the rest of the chasing pack will hope finishing their round earlier could be of assistance in chasing down 22-year-old Campbell.
Included in those a six strong group on nine-under-par that contains three-time Webex Players Series winner in 2024 Kazuma Kobori, who will resume from the middle of the 4th fairway.
Phoenix Campbell may still be an amateur, but having already won on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and with an attitude built for tournament golf, he will chase a second victory at the Webex Players Series Hunter Valley, where he leads at the halfway mark.
Returning to Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort after equalling Bret Coletta’s course record of 61 on Thursday, Campbell followed up with a four-under 66 to sit on 13-under with a one shot advantage over Daniel Gale, who signed for a 62.
“Another solid day, didn’t do too much different to yesterday. Few little breaks here and there, a few lips outs, it was a solid day for me,” Campbell said.
“I managed to stay patient there towards the end. I was giving myself a few opportunities and I wasn’t capitalising, so to stay patient and finish strong was a big credit to myself there.”
Also crediting this week’s caddie, former Tour player turned elite amateur mentor, Dean Kinney for helping to move on from mistakes and keep things light during the opening two days in the Hunter, Campbell’s lead could have been even larger if not for some bad luck at the 6th.
The site of his first bogey of the week, the QLD PGA champion’s drive careened off a cart path and found a hazard, his six at the par-5 immediately recovered from via birdies at 7 and 8.
“It was a little bit unlucky, but that happens, that’s golf, just got to accept it and move on,” Campbell said.
The Victorian adding a second bogey at the 13th and two more back nine birdies to sleep on the lead … not that he will be aware how things stand.
“I don’t look at the scoreboard at all during the week,” he said. “I’m not too worried about what everyone else is doing, I’m just going to play my best golf and come the weekend have a crack.
“For me personally, not looking at the leaderboard helps me it just makes me focus on my game rather than what everyone else is doing.”
Undertaking his blinkered approach in recent months, Campbell admits he will know where he stands come Sunday if he is in contention, while Gale believed despite having the low round of the day by two shots, he potentially left shots out there on a humid Friday.
“It’s been building, I think the whole season, that super low one, even today I didn’t take advantage of a couple early in the round, but got it going nicely,” Gale said.
Last week’s home course hero adding an unlikely eagle to his six birdies to shoot up the leaderboard and into Saturday’s final group.
Reaching the par-5 16th green in two from 270 metres and draining a curling putt for three, Gale was bogey-free on the day after taking a great deal from Sydney where the NT PGA winner was a start turn around Castle Hill.
“I probably took a lot of confidence from that, I still played solid. For me to play the golf I did with what I was going through, I feel like I handled outside pressures awesome,” he said of last week.
Two back of Gale on 10-under is West Australian Jess Whitting, who signed for a seven-birdie 64 powered by a rediscovery of some of her basics on the range this week.
“It was literally tempo, as stupid as it is. Flat left wrist, making sure it is square on impact. Just two little things that I know, and then I just figured it out this week,” said Whitting, who won a BMW i4 eDrive35 grand coupe with a hole-in-one at the Webex Players Series Murray River.
Noting a similar ball striking round to the previous day, but with putts falling, Whitting will play alongside Campbell’s co-overnight leader Tunrada Piddon who had a level par 70 for a nine-under total.
“I didn’t expect it was going to be low again, I just want to go out and try my best to shoot what I can,” Piddon said. “Obviously playing afternoon today it was pretty hard, it was windy. Towards the back of the back nine, and then halfway of the back nine. It was really hard.”
Taught the game by her father, who runs a golf school at home in Thailand, Piddon sits one in front of the player of the moment Kazuma Kobori.
The three-time Webex Players Series winner shooting a second straight 66 for an eight-under total and share of fifth place with Jeffrey Guan and Japan’s Kotono Fukaya.
“It is definitely an advantage, and I will definitely be using it, but in order to do so I am going to have make some birdies myself,” Kobori said when asked if he believed his success in 2024 increases his presence on the leaderboard.
Kobori’s caddie last week in Sydney, Tyler Wood, one shot back of his “boss” on seven-under alongside Kade McBride, Tim Hart, Anthony Choat and local amateur Ella Scaysbrook.
Six players another shot back on six-under, while defending champion Brett Coletta is part of a seven strong group, including his fellow 2024 Vic Open champion Ashley Lau, one shot further adrift.
After some late rain Wednesday at Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort, there were low scores to be had on day one of the Webex Players Series Hunter Valley. Phoenix Campbell and Tunrada Piddon doing just that with a pair of nine-under 61s to lead by two from Denzel Ieremia.
Out early, Piddon, who goes by ‘Pat’, wasn’t certain a low score was in the offering, and had plenty of shocked players follow her into score return to discover the Thai’s score that breaks the previous women’s course record of Cassie Porter by three.
“My putting was really good today, obviously. I mean didn’t expect it was going to be this low, but I stick some pretty close shots early on, so it built my confidence to keep going,” Piddon said.
“Hopefully it stays for another few days.”
Planning an afternoon exploring the Hunter Valley region with her sister and fellow WPGA Tour of Australasia player Peerada, the 23-year-old was likely confident she would be alone at the top of a congested leaderboard come Friday morning, before Campbell joined the party.
The Victorian, who set his first ever course record at his home club of Yarra Yarra in last year’s Sandbelt Invitational, taking the chances on offer to equal defending champion Brett Coletta’s low mark from last year.
“That’s pretty cool, I just played really solid,” Campbell said of the record mark.
“I didn’t let myself get too ahead of things, just a solid round of golf today. Hit a lot of greens, made a few putts, missed a few. Just all in and all a pretty solid day.”
Remaining an amateur after his QLD PGA victory late last year, Campbell continues to learn the ropes of top level golf, with a future in the play-for-pay ranks a matter of when not if. Something he hopes won’t change how he plays. An easily understood mindset following a bogey-free, nine-birdie round.
“I think there is a low one anywhere you go if you play the course like it’s meant to be played. If you play solid, you can absolutely go low anywhere,” the 22-year-old said.
“I like to think I won’t play any different when I am playing for money, it’s just another learning opportunity for me to try and get better and hone my craft. I’m not really thinking about winning or anything. Just taking one day at time. I’ll come out tomorrow, similar game plan.”
Currently undergoing a recent move into the pro ranks just like Campbell will eventually take, Piddon joined the professional ranks following WPGA Tour of Australasia qualifying school back in January.
The former University of Central Florida standout also going bogey-free while adding seven birdies and an eagle at the par-5 6th. Her recent shift from student athlete to professional allowing for an exclusive focus on golf.
“For me, it’s not too hard to adjust, from college golf you learn a lot. You travel almost every week, keep playing, keep studying at the time,” she said. “But this for me is easier, because you don’t have to focus on study, your grades, you just have to keep practising, keep getting better, and keep going. I love it.”
Having himself made the jump from college golf to professional golf back in 2019, Ieremia spoke of an increasing depth of talent at events like the Webex Players Series after his round that was highlighted by an eagle at the short par-4 7th.
The New Zealander’s improved putting performance on Thursday coming after doing his best to put into action what has become a common phrase on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia of “got to putt like Kazuma” as James Marchesani, who sits on six-under with Kade McBride and Jeffrey Guan, put it.
“Earlier this week I asked Kazuma about his putting. Asked if he could teach me Aimpoint, and I used it today, so it worked. I don’t know if I am good at it, but it was close enough,” Ieremia said.
“He’s a good teacher, he’s a hard competitor, he beat me twice, as you’d expect. He’s probably the best putter on the planet right now statistically, so good person to learn off.”
Also speaking of the Kiwi comradery and Kobori’s inspiring play was Kit Bittle, who opened with a five-under 65 to lie in a share of seventh with local amateur Ella Scaysbrook and Victorian Mattias Sanchez.
Kobori is part of a nine strong group one shot further back on four-under and five shots behind the lead pair, with PGA of Australia Associate Joe Kim alongside last week’s winner having scorched the front nine in seven-under 28 before dropping back on his inward half.
