New Zealand’s Ben Campbell has made the most of his first start in Asia for the 2018 Asian Tour season with a brilliant runner-up result at the Bangladesh Open.

Campbell earned status on the Tour at the Q-School earlier in the year but has played just twice since, when he teed up at the co-sanctioned ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open and the tri-sanctioned ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth.

However, after some brilliant play in Bangladesh, he may decide to play more events after rounds of 70-66-68-69 saw him share second place three shots behind winner Malcolm Kokocinski.

"It’s a great finish. I came into the week thinking I might be able to complete the tournament as I had a back injury. So to finish joint-second, this week feels really good," said Campbell who won the Horizon Golf NZ PGA Championship on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia earlier this year.

"I have a lot of positives to take out from this week. I chipped it really well, my tee shots were good too although I lost it a little bit on the back-9.

"It was close and I look forward to heading to China next week for the Asia Pacific Classic. I hope to get some practice and do what I need to work on. It’s always good to get a good start to the season so I can’t complain."

I didn’t really get off to a good start today. It was tough around the greens. I knew I had to make some birdies but my chipping was good. I hit a lot of fairways too and gave myself a lot of chances.

Campbell was the best of the 11 Australasians to make the trip to Bangladesh, David Gleeson next best of the group at T11.

Jack Wilson, who also earned his card at the Q-School, was next best at T22, the Victorian also making just his third start for 2018 since joining the Tour.

It was a good week for Wilson who won two pro-ams in Western Australian in the lead-up and will take some confidence from a final round 67 which saw him leapfrog 27 players.

Marcus Both (T43), Matt Stieger (T51), Gareth Paddison (T56) and Steven Jeffress (T60) were the other Australasians to make the cut, Adam Blyth missing by a shot after rounds of 76-69.

Travis Smyth and Kieran Pratt also missed the weekend while Oliver Goss was listed as a missed cut but only completed the opening round.

Who knew that Ben Campbell was such a pork lover! The man that loves to hunt wild pigs, Ben Campbell, gave them all a weekend off as his mates cheered him onto victory at the Horizon Golf NZ PGA Championship.

Tour Insider is back in the winner’s circle but most of all TI is over the moon for Ben who is one of the Tour’s real nice guys and TI sincerely hopes this win is the first of many for the talented Kiwi.

Our friends at Ladbrokes.com.au are up with the latest market ahead of round one tomorrow.

Ben Campbell –  $21 Ladbrokes.com.au

Stay with who took to you to the dance (or something like that anyway). TI thinks Ben can go back-to-back and claim his country’s national Open this weekend. He lives in town now and spends plenty of time practising around the Millbrook layout and TI thinks he will go one better this week after his runner-up finish last year.

Nick Flanagan – $67 Ladbrokes.com.au

Maybe a roughie in a lot of eyes but TI knows this guy is a player of high quality who can win when in contention. A few sneaky dollars on this guy could yield a healthy return.

Cameron Davis –  $21 Ladbrokes.com.au

TI likes his history but is not aware if a player has held both the New Zealand Open and Australian Open trophies at the one time. A ball striker of the highest quality (the locals should make a point of getting out to watch this guy) he has proven he can win as a professional and TI sees no reason why he can’t add to his trophy cabinet this weekend.

Mike Hendry – $12 Ladbrokes.com.au

TI doesn’t know what sort of form the defending champion is in but he clearly loves this part of the world and the courses which could just spur him onto another victory. Rarely puts in a bad performance in his national Open so he has got to be a chance.

Ryan Fox –  $10 Ladbrokes.com.au

Played a lot of junior golf with Campbell and would dearly love to win the NZ Open. Foxy also has Steve Williams on the bag….who wants an NZ Open victory just as much as his player.Once again TI is not sure how his recent form is but he had a great year in Europe last year and based on that form is right in the mix here. The team at Ladbrokes have him as the favourite this week.

TI believes Lucas Herbert could well feature again this week but after being called out by Herbert last year (for not selecting him) TI selected him to win in the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth (where he went close) and the active participant on social media gave TI no acknowledgement so he is not on TI’s list this week! Mind you TI would be very happy for the young Aussie to salute.

This week is most players’ favourite stop of the year so everyone is in a good mood and it should translate into some great golf.  ENJOY!

Ben Campbell is a relieved champion as he claims his first professional victory at the Horizon Golf NZ PGA Championship.

Returning to the Manawatu Golf Club, following a runner-up finish in 2017, Campbell made his presence known from the get go, holding a share of the lead after the first and third rounds.

Campbell fired rounds of 64, 66, 67 and 69 for a total of 18-under 266 to win the title by two shots from his final round playing partner Deyen Lawson (VIC) and Ashley Hall (VIC).

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet. I was close a couple of times last year and my game has been feeling really good lately so it’s nice to get the win, especially around here with family and friends around,” said Campbell.

“I changed my putting about two weeks ago and I was quite surprised how well it held up this week. I missed a short one on the front-9 today but I knew exactly what I had done and I took some time out to re-set and ultimately holed some good ones coming in.

“There was a nice one on 15, it was weird, I was standing over the putt and I just knew that I was going to hole that one,” added Campbell who gained the outright lead on the 14^th hole and never looked back.

Waking up this morning Campbell was greeted by windy conditions which he feels played to his favour and despite multiple players making a charge for the title he remained calm on course.

“I was actually really happy when I woke up this morning and saw how windy it was. I thought it would suit my game and I thought anyone would struggle to go really low out there. Although Simon Hawkes was 6-under after 9 holes,” added Campbell.

“I felt pretty calm out there the whole time. I learned from last year, especially at the Open (New Zealand), so I didn’t get nervous. It was nice to put myself in position and get across the line.”

It was a line he crossed with his mum, Jan Wyeth caddying for him.

“Mum caddied for me in a couple of pro-ams earlier in the year and we won both of them. So I thought it is close to home, she can get on the bag and we managed to get across the line again. Maybe mum is the lucky charm,” added Campbell.

“I also had a lot of mates from Wellington come up and family travel here so it was pretty special to get the win in front of them.”

This is Campbell’s first victory as a professional but also closes a chapter on his career that was marred by mysterious injuries which limited his playing schedule in 2015 and 2016.

“It was a pretty tough time; I spent a lot of money and was told a few times that I would never play golf again,” added Campbell.

“I saw so many doctors trying to figure out what was wrong and I just kept not taking no for an answer. I stuck at it and saw light at the end of the tunnel.

“I have worked really hard to get where I am. Through my injury I pretty much had to start at rock bottom again so it’s a pretty sweet feeling to get the win and get the monkey off my back.”

Campbell will head to the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open next week, where he also finished runner-up in 2017, a champion on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

Deyen Lawson and Ash Hall finished runner-up shooting even par and 6-under 65 in the final round respectively.

Oates Vic Open Simon Hawkes almost won his second title of the year, he was 6-under after 9 holes and leading the tournament but went on to finish outright fourth on 15-under the card.

Antonio Murdaca and Matt Millar finished tied 5^th on 14-under the card while a shot further back and rounding out the top-10 were Maverick Antcliff (QLD), Nick Voke (NZ), David Smail (NZ), Anthony Quayle (QLD).

For his win Campbell collected AU$17,022.37 and is now 15^th on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.

The ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia will now travel south to Queenstown for the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open to be played at Millbrook Resort and The Hills from 1-4 March.

New Zealander Ben Campbell has won the Horizon Golf NZ PGA Championship

Being played at Manawatu Golf Club, Campbell fired rounds of 64, 66, 67 and 69 for a tournament total 18-under 266 to win the title by two shots.

Campbell, who finished runner-up here last year, becomes the first New Zealander to win the title since Michael Hendry won back-to-back in 2012 and 2013.

This becomes Campbell’s first victory as a professional. He will head to the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open, where he also finished runner-up in 2017, a champion on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

More to come.

New Zealander Ben Campbell and Australian Deyen Lawson are tied for the Horizon Golf NZ PGA Championship lead after three rounds at Manawatu Golf Club.

Ben Campbell was a clear home crowd favourite as he fired 4-under 67 in the third round thanks to five birdies and a bogey on the front-9 while he parred his way into the clubhouse.

Despite the solid score and the support, it was a frustrating day on the greens for the Kiwi who felt he left plenty of shots on the course.

“I really struggled reading the greens out there today. I had a lot that looked dead straight and it was just figuring out if they were breaking a little bit left or a little bit right. Just about every one I got wrong so I feel like I’ve left a lot out there today,” said Campbell.

“There were definitely a few people out there and tomorrow I know there are a few more people coming over so it’s always good to get the home crowd support.”

Playing in the same group as Campbell, Lawson was aware of the crowd’s favouritism but was unperturbed as he fired 7-under 64 with his girlfriend and fellow PGA Professional Alexandra Orchard on the bag.

“I’m non-existent out there with the crowd but Ali claps me every now and then,” said Lawson with a wry smile.

“They enjoy Ben. I nearly holed one on 16 and didn’t get much, then Ben hit one into about 10 feet. And the crowd went wild.

“But that’s just how it is, I’ll just go out and do my thing and hopefully it’s good enough tomorrow,” added Lawson, whose round featured 10 birdies, the pick of the bunch coming on the 17^th hole.

“The birdie I made on 17; I was in a spot that wasn’t that great, the ball was way above my feet in the rough, I had to hit a hard wedge.

“I wasn’t too sure about it but Ali was fortunate enough to kick me into gear and said just hit it on close and roll the putt in. Sure enough I did.”

However if either Campbell or Lawson hope to secure their first victory on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia they will need to overcome Matt Millar, the reigning New Zealand Masters champion and 2015 New Zealand PGA champion.

The New Zealand specialist fired 6-under 65 today to be just one shot back of the leading pair.

“I do like playing in New Zealand, particularly this style of golf course where it’s not really that long but there’s a bit of a run on the ground and you’ve got to be pretty accurate. It’s my style of course,” said Millar.

“My first win was the New Zealand PGA at Remuera. I still look at the picture frame at home, it brings back great memories. It’s always good to come back and play well in this event.”

At 13-under the card, Queenslander Anthony Quayle is outright fourth after he fired 6-under 65.

Rounding out the top-5 on the leaderboard are New Zealander David Smail and Tasmanian Simon Hawkes who gave up the overnight lead with a 1-over 72 today.

The final round of the Horizon Golf NZ PGA Championship tees off at 9.20am with the final group of Lawson, Campbell and Millar on course at 11am.

Ben Campbell has picked up where he left off at the Horizon Golf NZ PGA Championship leading the tournament after the first round.

Finishing runner-up in 2017, Campbell returned to Manawatu Golf Club, just down the road from where he grew up, in a positive frame of mind and free of expectations.

“I’ve played here a lot. So I think a week like this, you feel a bit more comfortable,” said Campbell.

“I kind of keep to myself really and don’t worry too much about what others think. But I suppose there are (expectations), but if I do what I came here to do and if it’s good enough, it is good enough.”

After a 90 minute delay to the start of the round due to flooded greens, Campbell teed off the 10^th hole and with a solid start made the turn at 2-under the card.

“I holed a good putt on one and that’s probably what got it going. It was probably a 25-30 foot putt down the slope,” added Campbell.

“It was one of those days where the momentum just never stopped. If I needed to hole a putt, like on my fourth hole; I had about a six foot putt par and holed that and then just kept the ball rolling.”

On the front-9 Campbell really started to heat up, reeling off five birdies including one at the par-4 6^th, which is traditionally the hardest hole on the course.

“I actually got a really good drive down there and I only had sand wedge in. I don’t really think I have ever hit a sand wedge into that hole before,” added Campbell.

“After I got the drive away, it turned a tough hole into a bit of an easy hole so it was nice to birdie that one.”

While Campbell finished runner-up at both the Horizon Golf NZ PGA Championship and ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open in 2017, he believes his game is in much better shape this year.

The work he has put into his short game already paying dividends as he went on to open the two week New Zealand swing with a 7-under 65.

“I’ve just been playing really well, this year my game feels a lot better than it has the last year,” added Campbell, who made six cuts in 10 starts in 2017.

“I’ve just really worked hard on my putting. Last year that really cost me, I shouldn’t really have missed too many cuts last year.

“Then todayI made a couple of key up and downs to keep the momentum going.”

Sitting just one shot behind Campbell is his playing partner, Simon Hawkes, who is also in excellent form having just won the Oates Vic Open.

Joining Hawkes on 6-under 65 is New Zealand specialist Matt Millar. The Canberra native is a former NZ PGA Champion having won the event in 2015 and is the current reigning NZ Masters Champion.

At 5-under the card and rounding out the top-5 on the leaderboard are Jordan Zunic, Taylor Cooper and Deyen Lawson who had the best round of the afternoon field.

For all round 1 scores please visit pga.org.au.

The second round of the Horizon Golf NZ PGA Championship tees off at 7.30am local time with Ben Campbell on course at 12.30pm.

For all round 2 tee times please visit pga.org.au