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Aussies Abroad: Scott, Day head-to-head at Arnie’s place


Australia’s two most recent male No.1s and 2013 World Cup winners Adam Scott and Jason Day will go head-to-head at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida after being drawn to play alongside Brooks Koepka for the opening two rounds.

A place where Australians have enjoyed success in recent years, Bay Hill Club and Lodge crowned Day (2016) and Marc Leishman (2017) as victors in successive years, Leishman owning the honour of being the last player to be presented the trophy by Arnold Palmer prior to The King’s passing.

No.1 in the world for a 51-week period that ended in mid-February 2017, Day is second only to Greg Norman as Australia’s most enduring rein as the world’s best, Scott holding the mantle for 11 weeks following his win at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in May 2014.

Scott rose to No.7 in the world on the back of his win at the Genesis Invitational three weeks ago and advanced one spot higher following the WGC-Mexico Championship, the 39-year-old’s highest ranking since October 2016.

While Scott is again well entrenched in the top 10, Day has a way to go to reach those lofty heights.

Buoyed by a top-five finish at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Day chose to skip the first WGC event of the year and last week’s Honda Classic but returns this week to a venue that has been kind to him in the past.

In addition to his win four years ago, Day made the cut in six straight visits to Bay Hill before having to withdraw from last year’s tournament with a back injury.

Elsewhere around the world this week, there are 13 Aussies playing the Asian Tour’s Bandar Malaysia Open including 21-year-old amateur Lawry Flynn.

The Queensland left-hander finished tied for third at the Tailor-made Building Services NT PGA Championship last year and received an invitation to play this week due to his win in the 2019 Malaysian Amateur, the biggest win of his amateur career.

The European Tour remains in the Middle East for the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters where Scott Hend leads a contingent of five Aussies while Rod Pampling and Stephen Leaney will be out to build on their strong starts on the Champions Tour at the Hoag Classic in California.

Round 1 tee times AEDT

Asian Tour
Bandar Malaysia Open
Kota Permai Golf and Country Club, Shah Alam, Malaysia

11am     Adam Blyth, Kyungnam Kang, Sazanur Iman Salenin (a)
11.10am*            Scott Strange, Kazuki Higa, Rory Hie
11.40am              Terry Pilkadaris, Paul Peterson, Dongmin Kim
11.50am*            Travis Smyth, Naoki Sekito, Ajeetesh Sandhu
12pm*   Daniel Fox, Dongkyu Jang, Juvic Pagunsan
12.30pm              Lawry Flynn (a), Mohd Iylia Jamil, Fakhrul Akmal
12.40pm              Will Heffernan, Jimmy Chia (a), Fadzlan Faruk
12.40pm*            Ben Eccles, Mikiya Akutsu, Rashid Ismail
3.40pm Wade Ormsby, Amir Nazrin, Miguel Tabuena
3.50pm*              Jake Higginbottom, M. Sasidaran, Hein Sithu
4pm       Andrew Dodt, Leunkwang Kim, Suradit Yongcharoenchai
4pm*     Marcus Fraser, Viraj Madappa, Dodge Kemmer
4.50pm*              Josh Younger, Yeh Wei-tze, Kemarol Baharin

Defending champion: Anirban Lahiri (2015)
Top Aussie prediction: Wade Ormsby
Past Australian winners: Frank Phillips (1962), Bill Dunk (1963), Graham Marsh (1974, 1975), Stewart Ginn (1977, 1986), Brian Jones (1978), Terry Gale (1983, 1985, 1987).
Round 1 TV schedule: Live from 5pm Thursday on Fox Sports 503

European Tour
Commercial Bank Qatar Masters
Education City GC, Doha, Qatar

2.25pm Scott Hend, Thomas Detry, Laurie Canter
2.55pm*              Jason Scrivener, Joost Luiten, Joakim Lagergren
3.55pm*              Jake McLeod, Kyongjun Moon, Sebastian Heisele
4.15pm*              Maverick Antcliff, SSP Chawrasia, Saleh Al Kaabi
7.40pm Min Woo Lee, Martin Kaymer, Guido Migliozzi


Defending champion: Justin Harding
Past Australian winners: Nil
Top Aussie prediction: Scott Hend
Round 1 TV schedule: Live from 6.30pm Thursday on Fox Sports 506

PGA TOUR
Arnold Palmer Invitational
Bay Hill Club and Lodge, Orlando, Florida
10.45pm*            Danny Lee, Emiliano Grillo, Talor Gooch
10.57pm              Matt Jones, Sam Burns, Scott Harrington
12.06am              Adam Scott, Jason Day, Brooks Koepka
4.44am Marc Leishman, Sungjae Im, Rickie Fowler

Defending champion: Francesco Molinari
Past Australian winners: Rod Pampling (2006), Jason Day (2016), Marc Leishman (2017)
Top Aussie prediction: Adam Scott
Round 1 TV schedule: 6am Friday on Fox Sports 503

PGA TOUR-Latinoamerica
Estrella del Mar Open
Estrella del Mar Golf and Beach, Mazatlan, Mexico

1.10am James Anstiss, Joshua Lee, Patrick Flavin
4.50am Danny List, Joshua Seiple, Alex Weiss

Defending champion: Martin Trainer (2016)
Past Australian winners: Nil
Top Aussie prediction: Danny List

Champions Tour
Hoag Classic
Newport Beach Country Club, Newport Beach, California

Aussies in the field: Stephen Leaney, David McKenzie, Rod Pampling

Defending champion: Kirk Triplett
Past Australian winners: Nil
Top Aussie prediction: Rod Pampling
Round 1 TV schedule: Live from 10am Saturday on Fox Sports 503

* Starting from 10th tee


Brad Kennedy has become a two-time New Zealand Open champion after winning the 101st edition of the tournament at Millbrook Resort.

Kennedy capitalised on perfect scoring conditions and an ability to go low on Sunday to post a bogey-free round of 8-under and take a two-shot victory over Victorian Lucas Herbert.

With twin results of T3 over the past two weeks and the heartbreak of a final round fall at the Queensland PGA Championship still haunting his conscience, Kennedy was determined to set the standard early when he began the final round from two shots back.

“It’s just hard to put into words the emotion I’ve gone through the last two weeks,” Kennedy said.

“It felt like I’d lost two events and then to come back and play how I did this week, I think it’s going to take a little bit of time to really understand why the things happened for the reasons why they did and you just never know in this game.

“I think I was chasing today which put me in a really good mindset to continue to attack and I felt like a couple of times in the last few weeks I’d started to play out of what I can do and what I trust where today I really just focussed on doing what I needed to do.”

While overnight co-leader Joohyung Kim faltered early and Herbert soared into the lead Kennedy sailed under the radar with birdies at the second, fifth and sixth holes.   

A double-bogey from Herbert at 13, and a subsequent run of three birdies from Kennedy from holes 12 to 14 was all it took the 45-year-old to rocket out to a three-stroke lead. Yet it wasn’t until he arrived at the 18th hole that he was aware of the position.

“The course played unbelievable over the weekend, and not much breeze, I thought someone could easily shoot a really low one,” he said.

“Under pressure that’s hard, to get out there in the second last group and shoot that score under those conditions. I wasn’t aware of the scoring, because in the past that’s been a negative for me, just to look up and have those emotions affect you, whether you are in front or behind.

“I really made a conscious effort today of head down, wait until it’s finished and then react.”

Nerves filled the scorers hut on 18 as Herbert got within one stroke of the 21-under total set by Kennedy on his approach to the last but yet another wayward tee shot from the Victorian meant the Brodie Breeze Cup would again belong to Kennedy.

“I saw that Lucas got to 20 and then I putted out and I thought, well if he makes a birdie we are in a playoff, so I was never done until they said he hit it in the water,” he said.

This becomes Kennedy’s 13th professional victory, his fifth on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and his maiden Asian Tour win. He also becomes the first player to win the New Zealand Open twice since Greg Turner in 1997, and the first Australian to win twice since Rodger Davis in 1991.

“It’s pretty special. I don’t know if I’ll win a second one again, to be honest,” he said. “I was looking to hang the boots up at the end of this year, I’ve been doing it for 25 years and just really wanted to make this year a really positive year to end.”

“I’ve sacrificed a lot, but also my family has sacrificed a lot too. I’ve been pretty selfish over the last 15, 20 years playing the game and it just feels now is a good time to get back and watch my girls grow up and spend some time at home.”

The three-time Japan Golf Tour winner will now have the opportunity to return to the Asian Tour schedule next week in Malaysia if he chooses, however the prospect of time spent at home on the Gold Coast with his wife and two daughters will play a part in the future of Kennedy’s career.

A busy schedule in the early part of 2020 caught up to Lucas Herbert in a hard-fought final round of the New Zealand Open with the 24-year-old admitting his best golf was not on display in Queenstown.   

“It’s just a good start to the season. Obviously I had the win in Dubai and then to back it up with another top-five finish was really pleasing and realistically I didn’t have my best stuff this week,” Herbert said.

“To finish second you’ve got to look at the positives and I sort of can’t slouch too much at that.

“It probably looked like I hit it great but I was really battling some stuff with my golf swing and obviously two bad swings at the wrong times and a double on 13 and a bogey on 18 and that’s kind of the tournament right there.

“It was just one of those days where I just needed more stuff to go for me and it just didn’t so you’ve got to take those with the good and if I put myself in that position again hopefully it works out next time.”

Just months after a T3 finish at the Australian PGA Championship Nick Flanagan has again finished third at an ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia tournament but despite battling nerves throughout the final round the Novocastrian will take a number of positives home with him to Texas.

Asian Tour prodigy Joohyung Kim salvaged a final round of 70 following early errors to finish in fourth place ahead of New Zealand duo Harry Bateman and Michael Hendry in fifth place at 15-under.

The ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia now breaks until May for the PNG Open.

Photo: Photosport NZ


Warwick Golf Club Head Professional Sam Eaves has made a hole-in-one at the 213 meter par-3 13th at Millbrook Resort in an exciting final round at the 101st New Zealand Open.

While Lucas Herbert leads the way on the course, Eaves made the shot of the day on the back-nine with a stunning 4-iron shot onto the green.

Landing just short of the hole, his yellow Titleist ball kept rolling to find the cup and take the Queenslander to -3 for the day and 10-under overall with five holes still to play.

Eaves has made the most of the impromptu trip to Queenstown after pre-qualifying in Queensland on Monday for his fourth New Zealand Open start.

Eaves will take home an extra $NZ5,000 while three charities will also receive a Hyundai car thanks to his efforts.  

For live scores from the final round of the 101st New Zealand Open visit pga.org.au.

Watch the NZ Open live on Kayo and the full replay on Fox Sports 506 from 6pm AEDT.


Lucas Herbert is within reach of a second professional title in the space of two months after a stunning 6-under par third round at the 101st New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport.

The 24-year-old Victorian sits tied for the lead at -15 alongside Korea’s Joohyung Kim with just 18 holes to play at Millbrook Resort following a round of seven birdies and a lone bogey at the challenging par-5 13th.

A lead-securing birdie from Herbert at 17 was quickly matched by Kim on the 18th to tie the lead through 54 holes.

“I started off quite nicely and got that little three-birdie run through the middle and got myself in a nice position but then straight after that I felt like I really battled my golf swing for a few holes and hit some errant ones,” Herbert said.

“To fight back like I did and make some really good swings sort of 15, 16, 17 and even 18 there to hit it in the middle of the green, I was really proud of that because I think we’ve got a bit of work to do on the range to get ready for tomorrow.”

Fuelled by Queenstown’s famous Fergburgers the Bendigo local will draw on the confidence gained following January’s European Tour win when he takes to the first tee at 12:30pm NZT on Sunday.

“Tomorrow is going to be a different story. I don’t think I’ve ever been as ready as I am right now to go and do it. I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

“I think that win in Dubai is really going to help me out given I hadn’t done it before. That gives me that confidence that I can get it over the line and beat everyone.

“I’ll just try and channel that tomorrow. Some good positive thoughts from a month ago about that and whatever happens, happens.”

Keenly aware of the talent surrounding the top of the leaderboard, round one and two leader Kim will adopt an aggressive approach as he aims to go low on Sunday.

“I played really well today. I played well off the tee and my approach to the green but I did leave a lot of shots out there on the greens to be honest,” Kim said.

“You can’t have all day that it goes your way. I am still in the hunt. I have myself a really good chance for tomorrow. It’s is going to be fun to be honest.

“Playing with Lucas is going to be really enjoyable. Obviously he is a European Tour winner so it is going to be where ever it goes, whether I win or lose tomorrow I am going to enjoy myself and give it everything.”

With loved ones in town for the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour co-sanctioned tournament a win close to home would tick yet another career box for Herbert.

“Given that family and friends are all here this week too that would be awesome. My dad hasn’t seen me win yet so that would be pretty cool,” Herbert said.

“To get a win on the Australian Tour, as much as it’s not in Australia it would be good to prove back home that I can play as well as overseas.”

Queensland’s Brad Kennedy remains in the hunt for a second New Zealand Open title following a 5-under 66 third round at Millbrook Resort to sit in outright third place and two shots off the lead.

American Chan Kim and Novocastrian Nick Flanagan are tied three shots back at 12-under the card in fourth place.

The shot of the day, however, came from South Australia’s Wade Ormsby on the 17th when his approach shot found its way into the hole for eagle.

Entry is free for the final round of the 101st New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport which will tee off at Millbrook Resort tomorrow.

Photo: PhotosportNZ


South Korean teenager Joohyung Kim has shown maturity beyond his 17 years as he battled against increasing winds and a challenging The Hills layout to reclaim the lead of the 101st New Zealand Open.

Kim’s overnight benchmark of 7-under, set in round one of the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour tournament, was quickly eclipsed by Victorian Ben Eccles who started round two with an eagle in benign morning conditions.

Steady play and a 4-under round featuring five birdies and a lone bogey was all it took for Kim to return to the lead at 11-under.

“I played really well. With the tough conditions today it wasn’t very easy,” Kim said.

“We got three, four club winds, swirling every single time so it was tough but I managed myself really well and I hope to keep going through the weekend.

“If I can do what I did for the past two days, then I will be fine. Putting the ball in play, not giving myself too much nerves, that will be the key.”

As play returns to Millbrook Resort for the final two rounds Kim will lean on advice passed on from the game’s best as he aims to improve even further.

“I’ve been working really hard and it’s nice that the scores are as good as how much I work,” he said.

“I’m just trying to learn. I’m very fortunate that the guys, the veterans have been really nice to me and tell me how to play golf, how the best play so I think that really helps.”

Eccles’ hot start was the key to a consistent round that saw the 25-year-old end the day in outright second place as he chases a second ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia title.

“Yesterday I played awesome; in those conditions as well it just all came together. This morning I got off to a fast start – eagle, birdie, birdie. It awesome, it’s an amazing feeling and hopefully I can keep going,” said the 2015 NSW Open champion.

“The rough is up this year, which is going to make it interesting over the weekend. You’ve really got to take advantage of the par 5s, that’s something that I’ve done the last couple of days – a couple of eagles and a couple of birdies.

“I just wanted to keep enjoying it, that’s been the main thing for me this week. The last couple of years I haven’t enjoyed it a hell of a lot out in Europe, a bit of a mindset shift in the last few months has been where I think this golf has come from.”

A missing suitcase and ill-fitting borrowed clothes were quickly out of mind for Lucas Herbert when he took to The Hills on Friday morning.

Light winds made for kind scoring conditions and Herbert capitalised on the back-nine. A -4 round took the Bendigo local to a score of 9-under and a share of third place alongside Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert.

“I think my suitcase is just flying in at the moment. It will be good to get back into some familiar clothes tomorrow,” Herbert laughed.

“I had to wear some wet weather pants today because I think my pants are about that far too short so it’s been an interesting one.”

Despite winning his first professional tournament at the European Tour’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic in January this year Herbert shied away from suggestions he would be a threat on the leaderboard come moving day.

“Ben Eccles has won a Professional event as well so I don’t know that it’s going to be that much of an intimidation factor. Hopefully I can just go out there and play some good golf and sort of let that speak for itself,” he said.

Kieran Muir is the top Kiwi on the leaderboard following a blistering 65 on the Millbrook course.

Sitting alone in fifth place at 8-under the card, Muir leads a logjam of Australasian golf’s biggest names tied for sixth including Michael Hendry, Wade Ormsby, Brad Kennedy and Nick Flanagan.

Seventy-seven Professionals will progress to the weekend after the second-round cut was made at 60 players plus ties. Forty amateurs will also tee it up in the pro-am format from Saturday.

Photo: Photosport NZ


An early eagle has put Victorian Ben Eccles in the lead of the 101st New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport following what was a perfect start to round two at The Hills.

Birdies at the second and third holes kept the momentum rolling for a three-hole score of 4-under the card, a total he maintained for a 36-hole sum of 10-under.

“Yesterday I played awesome, in those conditions as well it just all came together. This morning I got off to a fast start – eagle, birdie, birdie. It awesome, it’s an amazing feeling and hopefully I can keep going,” Eccles said.

“The rough is up this year, which is going to make it interesting over the weekend. You’ve really got to take advantage of the par 5s, that’s something that I’ve done the last couple of days – a couple of eagles and a couple of birdies.

“I just wanted to keep enjoying it, that’s been the main thing for me this week. The last couple of years I haven’t enjoyed it a hell of a lot out in Europe, a bit of a mindset shift in the last few months has been where I think this golf has come from.”

The 25-year-old started the week as a reserve in the field for the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour co-sanctioned tournament but a late call up on Wednesday morning cut holiday plans short.

“I earned my Asian Tour card last week and we thought we’d travel anyway, but we got the call on Wednesday morning saying I was in,” he said.

“I think I was fourth reserve on the Australian Tour side. We were going to have a two week holiday regardless of what happened so it’s just a bonus to be playing.”

A missing suitcase and ill-fitting borrowed clothes were quickly put out of mind by Lucas Herbert when he took to The Hills on Friday morning.

Light winds made for kind scoring conditions and Herbert capitalised on the back-nine. A -4 round took the Bendigo local to a score of 9-under and a share of second place alongside Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert.

“I think my suitcase is just flying in at the moment. It will be good to get back into some familiar clothes tomorrow,” Herbert laughed.

“I had to wear some wet weather pants today because I think my pants are about that far too short so it’s been an interesting one.”

Despite winning his first professional tournament at the European Tour’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic in January this year Herbert shied away from suggestions he would be a threat on the leaderboard when play moves to Millbrook Resort from Saturday.

“Ben Eccles has won a Professional event as well so I don’t know that it’s going to be that much of an intimidation factor. Hopefully I can just go out there and play some good golf and sort of let that speak for itself,” he said.

Kiwi Kieran Muir made the most of still but rainy conditions at Millbrook Resort early in round two to move within reach of the lead at 8-under.

Overnight leader Joohyung Kim is capitalising opportunities available at The Hills to make the turn tied for the lead at 10-under.

Brad Kennedy, playing at Millbrook Resort, has continued a hot run of form to be 4-under through eight holes and also in a share of the lead.

The second round cut will be made ahead of round three with the top 60 Professionals plus ties progressing to the weekend.

The 101st New Zealand Open is broadcast live in Australia on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports.

For live scores from Millbrook Resort and The Hills visit pga.org.au.

Photo: Photosport NZ


Korean teenage superstar Joohyung Kim has shot 7-under 64 in round one of the 101st New Zealand Open, presented by Sky Sport, to lead by one shot over Australians Wade Ormsby, Brad Kennedy and Ben Eccles.

The 17-year-old seemingly mastered the challenging winds that hounded the Queenstown’s Millbrook Resort early in the day before closing out his round with a birdie on the 18th.

“I managed myself really well and gave myself lots of good chances and made some good putts too,” Kim said.

“I’ve been very fortunate to play well and I’ve also been working very hard. It’s nice to know that I can still post a good round after a month’s break.

“For tomorrow, I just have to play without any expectations and play the way I did today. A lot will also have to depend on the wind too.”

Queensland’s Brad Kennedy lead the way at The Hills course where he fired seven birdies, three bogeys and a lone eagle at 17 for a 6-under 66 opening scorecard to sit one shot behind Kim.

“It had everything. I thought it was going to hail there at one stage even,” Kennedy said of the weather.

“It was a totally different breeze to what we’re used to. Fourteen was down breeze, 15 was into the breeze so it was a totally different golf course. Luckily I didn’t even have a practice round this week so I just went from what I knew and it was a whole new experience.

“(It) actually caught me a couple of times so to get in the clubhouse with as many birdies as I had; it was a good fun round of golf.”

Low scores were there to be had late in the day at the Millbrook layout where both Wade Ormsby and Ben Eccles charged home for a share of second place.

Named as a reserve for the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour co-sanctioned tournament just yesterday, the late call up was a welcome surprise for the Victorian.

“It’s pretty awesome. I said to my best mate who’s caddying for me that I just want to enjoy the week whether I get in or not,” Eccles said.

“We got in yesterday morning so it’s a big bonus and to play like I did today was just awesome.”

Dying winds and a favourable breeze aided Ormsby’s birdie quest on the way to a bogey-free round of 6-under the card.

“I felt like we could have gotten the wrong side of the draw there pretty quickly so it was just a matter of hanging on early,” said Ormsby, who finished runner-up at the 2006 New Zealand Open in Auckland.

“I made some great up and downs on two and three and it was just a matter of hanging on. I started making some birdies back downwind there on seven, eight, nine.

“So that got a bit of momentum going and then I played nice around the back. The game feels pretty good, I putted nicely so I’m happy.”

Recent European Tour winner Lucas Herbert sits within two strokes of the lead alongside Terry Pilkadaris and Japan Golf Tour duo Kazuki Higa and Tatsuya Kodai.

Reigning champion Zach Murray completed his opening round at Millbrook Resort at 3-under the card after a bogey, followed by a double, reduced his 6-under lead.

Kiwi star Ryan Fox enjoyed a competitive start to round one but his total was also reduced to a final card of 2-under.

The New Zealand Open is broadcast live in Australia on Fox Sports Australia and Kayo Sports. For broadcast details click here.

For round one results visit pga.org.au.

Photo: Photosport NZ


Swirling winds and ever-changing conditions were unable to slow Brad Kennedy’s charge in the opening round of the 101st New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport.

Playing The Hills course in Arrowtown, New Zealand, Kennedy fired seven birdies, three bogeys and a lone eagle at 17 for a 6-under 66 opening scorecard to sit one shot behind morning leader Joohyung Kim.

Despite the conditions Kennedy was pleased to be at the pointy end of the leaderboard with three consecutive rounds at Millbrook Resort ahead.

“It had everything. I thought it was going to hail there at one stage even,” Kennedy said.

“It was a totally different breeze to what we’re used to. Fourteen was down breeze, 15 was into the breeze so it was a totally different golf course. Luckily I didn’t even have a practice round this week so I just went from what I knew and it was a whole new experience.

“(It) actually caught me a couple of times so to get in the clubhouse with as many birdies as I had; it was a good fun round of golf.”

A cancelled flight delayed Kennedy’s arrival into Queenstown but it did little to rattle the two-time NZ PGA champion who was kept on his toes across 18 holes.

Back-to-back results of T3 in the last two weeks put the Queenslander in good stead for the week ahead but Kennedy will remain focussed on playing an even game when round two begins on Friday.

“I pride myself on consistency, especially when I’m through the season. I’ve wasted a lot of shots over the last three weeks.

“So (I’m) trying to get rid of those. Even today, I hit it in two fairway traps which cost me two bogeys and I thought I was ok and the breeze got me both times.

“If I can eliminate the bogeys I’m actually playing well enough in the rest of it and putting well enough to keep performing so I’ve just got to try and be a little bit smarter and try not to make those soft bogeys.”

Leading the New Zealand Open early in round one is 17-year-old Joohyung Kim who seemingly mastered the Millbrook course in challenging winds.

A final-hole birdie closed out a spectacular round of 7-under par for the rising star who is pleased with the progress his game has made in recent times.

“I managed myself really well and gave myself lots of good chances and made some good putts too,” Kim said.

“I’ve been very fortunate to play well and I’ve also been working very hard. It’s nice to know that I can still post a good round after a month’s break.

“For tomorrow, I just have to play without any expectations and play the way I did today. A lot will also have to depend on the wind too.”

Reigning champion Zach Murray completed his opening round at Millbrook Resort at 3-under the card after a bogey, followed by a double, reduced his 6-under lead.

Kiwi star Ryan Fox enjoyed a competitive start to round one but his total was also reduced to a card of 2-under.

Golfing superstars Geoff Ogilvy, Michael Campbell and recent winner Lucas Herbert all feature in the afternoon field teeing it up on both The Hills and Milbrook courses today.

The New Zealand Open is being broadcast live in Australia on Fox Sports Australia and Kayo Sports. For broadcast details click here.

For the live round one leaderboard visit pga.org.au.

Photo: PhotosportNZ


Forty-eight hours ago Zach Murray was still in Mexico having just played in perhaps one of the biggest tournaments of his career.

Fast forward to Wednesday in New Zealand and the Victorian has touched down in Queenstown ready to defend his New Zealand Open title at the picturesque Millbrook Resort and The Hills.

Similarly to last year, Murray will take to the first tee on Thursday with just a few hours spent on the course but the lack of preparation is no curveball for the jovial 22-year-old.

“I landed in this morning and it’s been a pretty big day and a half for me but I’m feeling pretty good. I just had a nice pie from the bakery in Arrowtown so that’s fixed me up pretty good,” Murray laughed.

“I’m super excited. I’m playing here (Millbrook) tomorrow but playing at The Hills on Friday and going down the 18th (it will be) the next time I’ve been down there since last year so that’ll be pretty cool.

“I am going to be a little bit tired so there’s probably going to be a bit of frustration that could potentially happen so it’s just all about trying to do the best I can off the course and recover and just do all the one per centres as well as trying to enjoy the week.”

A strong few rounds at last week’s WGC-Mexico Championship were marred by food poisoning for an eventual T48 finish for Murray.

Despite ‘running out of gas’ by the final round he insists the experience of playing alongside the world’s best will prove invaluable ahead of the NZ Open.

“I played with Tommy Fleetwood on the last day and it was nice to see how they play compared to my game plan. My game plan is probably quite conservative compared to theirs,” he said.

“Obviously last week, I get a lot of confidence from that and then I think I’ve said it all along this is one of my favourite places in the world, Queenstown, and coming here I was really excited.”

Like many in the 152-player field, Murray describes the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour tournament, played in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour, as a must-play on the schedule.

The European Tour player, who earned his card courtesy of his first-place result on the Australasian Tour’s Order of Merit in 2019, will be joined by some familiar faces on the tee at Millbrook Resort including 2019 amateur partner Scott Heitcamp and Australasian PGA Professional Matt Guyatt.

“Obviously the expectation is to come back and play well and my game is in good shape,” added Murray, who will begin his championship defence at 8:36am (NZDT) on Thursday.

“I’ve got a lot of family and friends over this week and it will just be nice to get out there and play. I’m playing with the same amateur partner as I did last year, Scotty, so I’m looking forward to that as well.”

If victorious again in 2020, Murray will receive the winner’s share of the $NZ1,400,000 prize purse, Official World Golf Ranking Points and status on both the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour.

The 101st New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport is played from 27 February to 1 March 2020 at Millbrook Resort and The Hills in Arrowtown, New Zealand.


Warwick Golf Club Head Professional Sam Eaves has continued a pre-qualifying streak that has this week secured him a place in the field at the 101st New Zealand Open, presented by Sky Sport.

Eaves shot a seven-under par 64 to lead all scorers in the final qualifying event held at the Caboolture Golf Club in Queensland on Monday.

The former full-time ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia competitor finished tied for 23rd in his last attempt at the NZ Open title in 2015 and will relish the opportunity to return to the top ranks of golf.

“It feels awesome to qualify,” said Eaves, who has played the tournament three times in his career.

“I can’t believe I’ve qualified for another event and also have the opportunity to play the New Zealand Open again. It would have to be my favourite place to play golf.”

Tour professional Michael Wright finished one shot behind Eaves with fellow Queenslander Jack Munro, who has played on the Asian Tour and European Challenge Tour, shooting a five-under 66 to claim the final spot.

The trio will be making a hasty flight across the Tasman to prepare for the 101st New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort and The Hills starting on Thursday.

At Cromwell Golf Club in New Zealand three amateurs have prevailed from 53 golfers at the final qualifying tournament for the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour co-sanctioned tournament.

Two highly promising young amateurs, Auckland teenager Jimmy Zheng and Christchurch’s Matthew McLean will realise their dream, while experienced Wellington course superintendent, Adam Church will play in his second New Zealand Open.

Zheng and Church both fired six-under par 66s while McLean was the final player to finish, shooting a four-under 68 to snatch the third and final spot up for grabs at the Cromwell Golf Club today.

There were six players tied on three-under 69 waiting for a playoff until McLean charged home to edge them by one shot.

Zheng, 18, from the Howick club was one-under par through nine holes today before firing five birdies on the second nine in his 66. The Youth Olympian is one of the most promising young amateurs in the country.

Joining him is the 38-year-old Church, who played in the New Zealand Open at the Hills in 2009, but had not contemplated entering the qualifying this year.

“My wife entered me and I played well enough in regional qualifying to make it to final today. I played really well today and this is pretty exciting,” said Church.

“With my job and my family I don’t get much time to actually play golf. So this is a real bonus and I am excited.”

Leading Scores Final Qualifying, Cromwell Golf Club, P designates Professional, Par 72, 3 to qualify:

66 Jimmy Zheng (Howick), Adam Church (Judgeford)

68 Matthew McLean (Harewood)

69 Callum Judkins (Otago), Jayden Ford (Judgeford), Lachie McDonald (P, Marton), Victor Janin (P, Rotorua), James Hydes (Gulf Harbour), Jesper Bengtsson (Noth Shore)

70 Mark Hutson (P, Unattached), Yongiu Kin (Whitford Park), Richard Lee (P, NZL) Charlie Smail (Walton), Jordan Woodall (Cambridge).

Leading Scores, Final Qualifying, Caboolture GC, Queensland, all professionals, Par 71, 3 to qualify:

64 Samuel Eves (Queensland)

65 Michael Wright (Queensland)

66 Jack Munro (Queensland)

67 Aaron Wilkin (Queensland), Charlie Dann (Queensland)

68 Chang Gi Lee (Korea), Jihoon Kim (Korea), Peter Martin (Queensland), Austin Bautista (NSW), Douglas Klein (Queensland), Jordan Mullaney (NSW)

69 Lloyd Radcliffe (NSW), Anthony Choat (South Australia).


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