A breakthrough victory at Webex Players Series Sydney on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia on Sunday has set off a torrent of congratulations in person, over the phone and online.

Voke’s popularity, which has included an estimated “300 to 500 messages in the inbox” would soar even higher if he’s the one to break an eight-year drought for home players in their national championship on Sunday.

“Growing up, this was the one that we watched,” Voke said today after completing his final practice round at Millbrook Resort.

“We know the history, we know the winners and I mean to be part of that, with your name on the trophy, would be pretty wicked.

“You have to play pretty well though. There’s a lot of good golfers here.”

Among those very happy to see Voke hold on to win by a shot from Australian Jake McLeod on Sunday – his first success in an Official World Golf Ranking event since 2018 – was former British Masters champion Daniel Hillier, who is the No.1 ranked New Zealander in the field this week.

“I’ve been a big fan of Vokey for a long time. I remember actually back when I was younger, we used to play a Wellington versus Auckland game in Taupo and he wasn’t there. He was playing for New Zealand at the time and they were all talking about him,” Hillier said,

“I was just young but coming through the ranks and I thought ‘God, actually I’d love to be like Vokey. That’d be pretty cool’. I’ve looked up to the man for a long time.”

Like Voke and the other 23 home players this week, Hillier would love to be the next New Zealander to have their name on the Brodie Breeze Trophy.

He’s in good early season form, already banking a second at this year’s Dubai Desert Clasic and two other top-25 finishes on the DP World Tour to sit in fourth place on the Race to Dubai standings.

“I think it’s every professional golfer’s dream to win their national open, myself included,” Hillier said.

“I feel like I’ve got the game to do it now.

“It’s just not putting too much pressure on myself and going out, playing the game, staying patient with it.”

And maybe holing plenty of putts like Voke did over 72 holes at Castle Hill.

“Having some confidence is really nice,” last Sunday’s champion said.

“You see some putts go in then all of a sudden the hole gets bigger. We’ve all felt it and the hole felt pretty big to me last week. Hopefully it remains the same size this week.”

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But there’s also a growing frustration that he hasn’t managed to win his national championship at his home club despite coming very close in the past.

The 33-year-old, who now plays fulltime for the Range Goats in LIV Golf, gets another chance to win his first Open at Millbrook starting on Thursday, when he will be one of the big favourites to claim the Brodie Breeze Trophy.

“Yeah, definitely frustrating. I’ve had my chances,” Campbell said of his near-misses which include runner-up finishes in 2017 and 2023.

“The game is in a good solid spot. They always get the greens so good out here and you’ve got to have a really hot week with the putter to definitely be up there. I’m working on that at the moment and hopefully we’ll get a few putts to drop.

“It’s always nice playing a tournament when you can sleep in your own bed and around your home golf course.”

After playing at LIV Adelaide earlier this month, where he finished equal 23rd, Campbell has been at home at Queenstown, not only working on his game, but also playing handyman and throwing in a weekend fishing trip with some Asian Tour player guests.

“Just being able to relax a little bit before the tournament, it’s obviously a bit different to normal,” he said.

“I always love playing here. It’s such a special time, obviously I’m a member here and I play most Fridays with the members when I’m home.

“I’ve been through the struggles of injuries and things like that and it’s great to play in front of everyone who’s been there for you in that tough time.

“It’d be great to put the name on the trophy.”

Campbell will partner fellow New Zealander Steve Alker in a feature group across the first two rounds, teeing off in round one from the 10^th hole of the Remarkables course at 8.13am on Thursday.

Photo: NZ Open/Photosport.nz

Voke’s two-stroke lead overnight quickly became six when the three-time PGA TOUR Series China winner had two birdies and a bogey to start his round as playing partner Declan O’Donovan made a double-bogey at the par-3 second and then dropped another shot at the par-4 third.

The lead would grow to as many as eight when Voke followed up an eagle at five with birdies at six and seven yet that’s when the runaway train stalled as Voke eyed a rarely-hit scoring mark.

“I was 5 (under) through seven thinking, What’s going on here?” Voke said after his 5-under 67 that has Asian Tour regular at 22-under for the tournament.

“Then I asked Tom (Power Horan), there might be a chance we get to 30 (under) and so that would be nice. But look, tomorrow, I haven’t looked at weather, the forecast all week, I’ll just kind roll up and whatever it is, I’ll just do the best I can and go from there.”

The stall in Voke’s scoring came as the wind lifted to its peak of the week and as the likes of Jake McLeod (65), fellow Kiwi Tyler Wood (64) and Travis Smyth (66) charged.

A perennial contender this Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season, McLeod’s round came without a bogey as the former Order of Merit winner lifted himself to 18-under and second alone.

“It was good. Another good day today,” McLeod said.

“It’s always good when you have a bogey-free day for two in a row now, so very pleased with that. The game’s been trending for a long time now. I’ve done some really good work.”

Wood’s round was also without a bogey as he returned to a venue with positive memories of a different nature, having caddied for Kazuma Kobori on his way to victory in 2024.

His 64 took the New Zealander to 15-under alongside Smyth and Jack Munro, with Cassie Porter’s round of the day, a 9-under 63, elevating her to tied sixth with Ryan Peake on 14-under.

“The opportunities are definitely out there if you want to take advantage of them. Just requires a few good shots and hopefully a few putts drop,” Porter said after recording two eagles, including one at the par-5 first hole, in her third round.

“It’s felt close for a while, but as we all know, this game has so many swings and roundabouts.

“It’s nice for it to click every now and then.”

Despite not quite clicking as well as it has in the earlier rounds, Voke’s game was still good enough to scrape through without damage. The 30-year-old’s 194 total for 54-holes is a new tournament low, bettering the 196 mark set by Daniel Gale and Jeffrey Guan in 2022 at Bonnie Doon.

Voke’s most important, and perhaps lucky, par in a streak that began at the par-4 eighth came at the par-3 17th hole, when his ball was spared a watery grave by a collar of rough and he fashioned a superb pitch shot to four feet before holing out for par.

“Did you see the break I got on 17? Yes. Did you like that three?” Voke said with a smile.

“It was really weird. I got off to an absolute flyer, just roaring out of the gates and then I played fine. The wind got up, it got tricky; a couple of 12-footers I missed.

“I had a few birdie ops, missed them, but the ones where I was in trouble, able to make my par and move on. It’s just a weird one.

“You’ve just got to say, ‘Golf’s hard. It was windy out there. Give yourself a break. Go get some Frangos (chicken) tonight and get it tomorrow’.”

Vic Open Inclusive champion Lachlan Wood has a three-shot buffer after Round 1 of the All Abilities tournament after a five birdie round of 2-under par on Saturday, with Victorian Tom Ryan the next best with a round of 1-over 73.

Meanwhile, in the Junior Players Series, Nicholas Heanes is at 1-under and three shots in front of Owen Brightman, Cooper Giddings and Kiara Connolly-Jackson.

Webex Players Series Sydney is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.