A good luck kiss of his driver has helped Australian Zach Murray clamber to a one-shot lead going into the final round of the 100th New Zealand Open in Queenstown.

Murray started the day with a five-shot buffer over the field, but his third bogey of the day on the 10th saw him slide down the leaderboard at The Hills.

The 21-year old recorded a birdie-birdie ending to finish 17-under the card to grab a one-shot advantage over New Zealand’s Josh Geary.

Standing on the 18th tee and sharing the lead with Geary, Murray’s caddy convinced him to give his driver a smooch and he duly pounded his tee shot down the middle of the fairway to set up a finishing birdie.

“I gave Leuk the Duck a wee kiss on the last – it’s the Jarrod Lyle leukaemia duck – just for a wee bit of good luck. My caddy makes me kiss it every now and again, so a bit of humour,” said Murray.

Murray was able to reflect on a round where he kept himself together as his lead wilted, before earning an ovation from The Hills clubhouse with a strong finish.

“That’s what you live for in golf, to hole those putts on the last. It gave me a few goosebumps. I wasn’t playing bad earlier on, I just wasn’t capitalising on my good shots.”

Murray won on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia at the WA Open last year as an amateur, but is on the cusp of his first professional win after joining the paid ranks in November.

“Josh will obviously have a few followers about and it will be really nice to play in front of his home crowd,” added Murray.

“I’m thoroughly enjoying New Zealand at the moment, I think the crowds have been fantastic this week and super supportive of me.”

Not many were talking about Geary as a potential New Zealand Open champion after two rounds, but that all changed today.

Starting the day eight shots behind Murray, Geary was superb with his approach play on the way to a 9-under 63 which featured a memorable eagle on the driveable 340m par-4 15th.

“With Zach five shots in front you had to do something pretty special if he kept going the way he was,” said Geary.

“The field has caught up a bit which has given a few more players a chance.

“I didn’t do a lot different today. I hit a lot of good approach shots, a lot of close ones and gave myself smaller birdie putts. The short irons were definitely dialled in early on.”

Geary has been troubled by tightness in his hips and spent plenty of time stretching during the round.

“My hips have not been in a great spot this week and I’ve done a lot of work with the physio. There’s no pain, just not moving that well and it affects my golf swing and I lost a few tee shots early on from that. It felt better later on but I will do some more work with the physios and get it squared away.”

Fellow New Zealander Harry Bateman is three shots off the lead after a mixed round which included two bogeys and two eagles, for a share of third with Japan’s Ryuko Tokimatsu and Kodai Ichihara, who shot five birdies in his first six holes.

Rikuya Hoshino matched Geary for the round of the day with 9-under 63, three birdies in his closing four holes keeping him in sight of the leaders.

“I was aiming to play 8-under today but I’m glad to get one more birdie. I think I am in a good position for tomorrow, I’ll do my best to win,” said Hoshino

Hoshino is four shots off the pace, along with Australians Aaron Pike and 2014 New Zealand Open winner Dimitrios Papadatos.

Top-ranked Kiwi Ryan Fox put himself in a good position early in his round when he got to 12-under, but three bogeys saw him slip back to 10-under for the round.

“It was a frustrating day to be honest from 3-under after six and everything felt good. It got slow out there and I lost rhythm a bit and hit a couple of poor drives and didn’t putt anywhere near as good as yesterday,” Fox said.

“I need something silly low tomorrow, but Josh has done that today, so I know it is out there.”

Meanwhile, Geary would love to turn his boyhood dreams into reality by winning his national open.

“It would mean the world being from New Zealand to win your home Open. Only a select few have done that and some pretty good names at that. This is the event we grew up watching as kids. Even at the age of 13 or 14 I dreamed of playing in the Zealand Open, so to win it would be unbelievable for sure.”

Australian Zach Murray has claimed his first win since turning professional with victory in the 100th New Zealand Open in Queenstown.

The 21-year-old from country Victoria almost managed to maintain the relaxed facade on show through three previous rounds at The Hills and Millbrook.

His composure was tested on 18 after a wild tee shot, and a second shot which flew well over the green, before making it down for bogey to win by two strokes from compatriot Ashley Hall and New Zealand’s Josh Geary.

Murray, who previously won the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia’s WA Open as an amateur, claimed the Brodie Breeze Cup and takes home $AUS211,724 for the win, along with a further $AUS11,292 as part of the winning pro-am team.

Starting the final round with a one-stroke lead over Geary, Murray had fallen back to the pack early on the back-9 before an eagle and two birdies from the 13th to 15th holes propelled him towards a winning score of 4-under 68 for the round and 21-under 266 for the tournament.

Murray is believed to be the first wire-to-wire winner in the New Zealand Open since Sir Bob Charles in 1954.

“Starting my career like this is so huge and to win the 100th New Zealand Open – I don’t really think words can describe that,” said Murray.

“I’ve etched my name in history a little bit, which is really good and I’ll come back and support this tournament as long as I’m a professional. I’m looking forward to playing this tournament for the rest of my life.

“I was speaking to (Sir Bob) just before and I’d never met him before, he’s an amazing man and I reckon if I could have a 10th of the career that he had I’ll die a happy man.”

Beginning the day with two birdies to match Murray, Geary came unstuck with back-to-back bogeys on the 5th and 6th holes, only a good putt saving him from making it three in a row.

His tee shot on the 9th found the water and led to a bogey, and then he birdied the par-3 10th only to drop another shot on the next hole.

An eagle-birdie-birdie run starting at 13 sparked his round to life but he had too much ground to make up on Murray.

“When I hit it close on 13 and got the eagle I thought ‘maybe’, but he responded really well,” said Geary.

“We lost the tee shot left on 15 but got a drop and made birdie and started to feel it could happen. It was not really gone because 16, 17 and 18 are holes that can trip you up.

“It is my first event for three months and it came with a lot of changes to the swing over the last six months. Overall I am really happy with the week. It was a shame I lost a bit of momentum today.”

Meanwhile, Hall had reason to reconsider plans to retire after next week’s SEC NZ PGA Championship after pushing Murray throughout the final round.

Hall’s five birdies on the front-9 had him in contention and three straight birdies midway through the back-9 gave him a share of the lead before he started to run out of holes and hooked his tee shot on the par-4 18th wide, finishing with bogey to be 19-under the card.

“I wanted to get off to a quick start and I did, I found some magic with the putter. I almost felt like I couldn’t miss for a little while. I’m a bit disappointed with the finish, just a bit jittery; I haven’t played much lately and haven’t been in the hunt for a while.”

Two eagles on the back-9 saw Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond shoot up the leaderboard with an 8-under 64, finishing 18-under the card for outright 4th place in the 23-year-old’s first appearance in Queenstown.

Brad Kennedy came back from a bogey on the 8th to string three birdies together to be in a share of second place, but he could only watch a series of putts slide agonisingly by on the final holes.

He finished 17-under for a share of fifth with Japanese players Rikuya Hoshino and Ryuko Tokimatsu.

Korea’s Jang Hyun Lee was the leading amateur, finishing 11-under in a tie for 23rd place.

For his win, Zach Murray earns full status on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour until the end of the 2021 season.

Murray is now second on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit which is led by Ryan Fox who finished tied 11^th this week.

The ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia travels to Christchurch for next week’s NEC NZ PGA Championship to be played at Pegasus Golf and Sports Club.

Joint leader after the first round, Ryuko Tokimatsu is the clubhouse leader of the morning field on day two of the 100^th New Zealand Open in Queenstown.

Tokimatsu, 24, with three career wins to his name, fired 2-under 69 at Millbrook in a round featuring four birdies and two bogeys, to be on 10-under the card ahead of compatriot Kodai Ichihara on 9-under after a 68 todayat Millbrook Resort.

Joining him on the leaderboard are two former New Zealand Open champions; Brad Kennedy and Dimitrios Papadatos who both played at Millbrook Resort in the second round.

Kennedy, the 2011 champion, reeled off eight birdies on his was to shooting 8-under 63 after giving himself a pep talk last night.

“It was a combination of doing what I needed to do but also being rewarded for hitting good shots.

“I putted brilliantly today, I putted poorly yesterday so was able to turn that around after giving myself a talking to last night. I said it wasn’t good enough and if I wanted to get myself into contention I had to play better and I managed to do that today.”

Meanwhile Papadatos, the 2014 winner, shot a 66 today after his opening round of 68, all whilst battling a wrist injury that almost saw him sidelined.

“I was in doubt for the tournament, yesterday morning I didn’t think I would be playing but Neki Patel from Queenstown Health treated it for me and it has been alright,” said Papadatos.

“Wednesday morning I played two holes in the practice round and it really didn’t look like I would be able to play. I was pretty down and out, I didn’t realise how much it meant to me until then.

“I wanted to come and play at The Hills, to think I wasn’t going to play was disappointing. But now I am just happy to be out there playing and to be in contention is even better.

“Surprisingly I am hitting it really well. I think I have only missed one of two greens the last two days. I made a couple of putts and it all seems to be going alright.”

They are joined on 9-under by another overnight leader in Kiwi professional Harry Bateman who had a 1-under 70 at Millbrook Resort today after his brilliant 64 at The Hills on day one.

Other morning rounds of note included a 6-under 65 by former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy.

Two holes in one also provided some sparkle on day two. Australian professional Damien Jordan holed out on the second hole at Millbrook Resort today,hitting a pitching wedge to the 139m par-3.

He was joined by Thailand professional Natipong Srithong who scored a hole-in-one at The Hills. He fired a 7-iron to the 174m par-3 16^th.

The afternoon field is now on course.

Nine-time New Zealand Open champion, Peter Thomson was inducted into the New Zealand Golf Hall of Fame today on the eve of the 100^th New Zealand Open.

Thomson is the ninth member of the Hall of Fame and the first Australian to be honoured in this manner after becoming the most prolific champion to win the title and played a huge part in putting the New Zealand Open on the world map.

Thomson also won the prestigious Open Championship five-times in 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958 and 1965 to make him one of Australia’s finest golfers.

His nine New Zealand Open victories were between 1950 and 1971 where he led the movement across the Tasman and in 1958 he brought Gary Player, Harold Henning and David Thomas to New Zealand with the field regarded at the time as the best ever to contest the championship.

Peter Thomson was recognized internationally for his stellar career when he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1988.

As New Zealand Golf celebrate the 100^th playing of the New Zealand Open, there is no golfer more worthy than Peter Thomson who’s name will be forever be linked with this championship.

Thomson’s record:

• Open Champion, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958 and 1965
• New Zealand Open Champion, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1955, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1965 and 1971
• Six US PGA Tour titles
• Twenty nine European Tour titles
• A further thirty professional wins worldwide
• Eleven US Senior Tour titles

New Zealander Harry Bateman has stormed home to be part of a three way share of the lead alongside Australian Zach Murray and Japan’s Tokimatsu on the opening day of the 100th New Zealand Open in Queenstown.

Bateman started the day with two bogeys, but had four birdies and an eagle over his last six holes at The Hills to join Murray, who played Millbrook Resort this morning, and Japan’s Ryuko Tokimatsu who also played The Hills this afternoon, on 8-under the card.

“It was one of the weirdest rounds I have ever had. I topped it off the 1st tee and made bogey there and the next hole. Then I stuck in and got it back to par, and then lit it up over the last six or seven holes,” Bateman said.

“I honestly feel I didn’t play that well but got some good breaks and holed some great putts. My short game was unreal. I had a good two days at the Open last year but hopefully I will just keep charging this time.”

21-year-old Murray shot a flawless round of 63 which included eight birdies and after only a few minutes of preparation.

“It was a strange warm up for me. I hit about five balls and I was like ‘I’m not going to get warm’, and so I just sat in the pro shop and waited until the sun came out, hit a couple of putts and off I went,” Murray said.

“I do that back at home when I’m just playing with my mates so I suppose I might have to do that more often.”

Murray turned professional in November after winning the WA Open as an amateur, and finished fourth at Asian Tour Q-School.

His opening round was a nice birthday present for his father.

“(It’s) Dad’s birthday today. He messaged me last night and said 65 would be nice, considering he was born in ‘65, so I added a couple of years onto him today with a 63. I spoke to him quickly just before and he said he doesn’t mind,” added Murray.

Japan’s Tokimatsu, who has three career titles to his credit, came home strong with two of his nine birdies coming on the 8th and 9th finishing holes at The Hills.

Japan’s Kodai Ichihara is in fourth place on 6-under the card, while three players share fourth place on 5-under, including Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat and Australians Ashley Hall and Maverick Antcliff.

There are 86 players in red figures with 16 players in a share of 9th on 4-under the card, including US-based Tim Wilkinson and Josh Geary.

One of the pre-tournament favourites Ryan Fox, who arrived home yesterday from playing in the WGC – Mexico Championship, fought off jet-lag to shoot 3-under 69 at Millbrook Resort, defending champion Daniel Nisbet is 1-under the card and the 2000 New Zealand Open winner, Michael Campbell, returning from a six-year hiatus from the game, settled for even par at The Hills.

Fox was not unhappy with his opening round.

“I left a few slip out there but 3-under is not bad looking at the leaderboard and looks like there is some scores to be had at the The Hills. Hopefully we get a nice afternoon and a little bit warmer which makes is easier to score.”

Australian PGA rookie Zach Murray has turned in the best round of his young professional career to take a clubhouse lead on the opening day of the 100th New Zealand Open in Queenstown.

Murray shot a flawless round of 63 which included eight birdies – his round so hot that the scorers’ room had to be evacuated after smoke alarms at Millbrook went off and the Fire Service arrived.

It was a stark contrast to Murray’s mid-morning start on a chilly Queenstown day which featured fresh snow on the Remarkables, the affable Victorian unable to find a thermal top in the Millbrook pro shop which would fit him.

“It was a strange warm up for me. I hit about five balls and I was like ‘I’m not going to get warm’, and so I just sat in the pro shop and waited until the sun came out, hit a couple of putts and off I went,” Murray said.

“I do that back at home when I’m just playing with my mates so I suppose I might have to do that more often.”

Murray, who won the WA Open as an amateur, turned professional in November for the Australian Open and finished fourth at Asian Q School, carrying his good form across the Tasman for his first trip to Queenstown.

“I think it’s probably a credit to the VIS and Golf Australia, and the PGA in Australia as well for allowing me to play a number of professional events before I turned pro,” he said.

“It was pretty steady, I didn’t miss too many fairways and I don’t think I missed a green. It was pretty straightforward, I putted well and everything just sort of clicked and I got a lucky bounce here and there where I needed it. Sometimes those rounds just pop up at the right time and it was fortunate enough that it happened here.”

His opening round was also a nice birthday present for his father.

“(It’s) Dad’s birthday today. He messaged me last night and said 65 would be nice, considering he was born in ‘65, so I added a couple of years onto him today with a 63. I spoke to him quickly just before and he said he doesn’t mind.”

Murray was planning on spending a relaxed afternoon before shifting his focus to The Hills for the second round tomorrow.

“I love both tracks, I felt as though The Hills suited me a little bit more so it will be interesting to see how I go tomorrow. I haven’t been driving it well lately and that’s what’s been letting me down but I drove it well today.

“This is the lowest round I’ve shot as a professional, I’ve had 61 on my home course as an amateur, but this would be one of the best rounds I’ve had.”

Queenslander Daniel Nisbet is confident his game is on track to do justice to his status as defending champion for the 100th New Zealand Open in Queenstown starting on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of PhotoSportNZ

The Australian is one of 12 former champions to contest the New Zealand Open which is co-sanctioned with the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour played across both The Hills and Millbrook Resort.

The 28-year-old, who stormed to a tournament record 27-under par to win last year, comes off a victory at the Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship last week. He feels the victory has him in a good place with his game.

“It is nice when the form comes in at the right time. I played pretty well over the summer. I just had to tweak a few things and I think we have made the right choices and changes with my game to hopefully be in contention again this year,” said Nisbet.

The Queenslander said the win opened up opportunities for him, although a lack of consistency at the end of the year cost him further honours on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.

“There is so much to play for – the European Tour access, there’s different tournaments you can qualify for like WGC and Dunhill Links and others, all these events that come off the back of finishing high on the moneylist. That is about being consistent throughout the year.”

He is excited about coming back to Queenstown and the New Zealand Open, where the final two rounds will be at The Hills this year after Millbrook Resort hosted last year.

“It is a pretty amazing place flying into Queenstown. The scenery here is second to none. Whether defending or not, it is such an amazing feeling coming back to these courses and this area. The two courses are absolutely world class and coming back in is a great feeling.

“Obviously we played Millbrook more last year so I have a bit more experience there but I also played well at The Hills and I like this course.

“They both have very different aspects where you need to be stronger. Around Millbrook you need to be stronger off the tees and around The Hills you need to be stronger around the greens.

“I just hope I can be in contention at the end of the week.”

You wouldn’t ever want to compare a US Open winner with a Saturday hacker, but it will be a nervous Michael Campbell who lines up in his first competitive round in six years on the opening day of the 100th New Zealand Open in Queenstown on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of PhotoSportNZ

Campbell, who headed Tiger Woods by two shots at Pinehurst in 2005 to secure a place in golfing history, is coming out of a self-imposed retirement as he targets the Seniors Tour, and will be sure to pull a curious gallery at The Hills and Millbrook Resort this week.

“I’m pretty nervous, I must say. It’s the first time I’ve had a scorecard in my back pocket for six years. It’s going to be pretty interesting on the first tee, but from the very beginning I’ve got no expectations – I’m here to celebrate a wonderful 100 years of the New Zealand Open, that’s a pretty cool thing and I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Campbell said.

“I’m here to support the New Zealand Open, I’m here to grow the game in New Zealand and for me, personally, turning 50, it’s my senior tour this year so what a great way to start than with the New Zealand Open.”

It is a decade since Campbell last played in his national open, having won the tournament in 2000.

His preparation for the senior ranks has included blending science with his natural game for an ‘evolved’ Michael Campbell.

“I’ve been really into the whole science of it now. Before I was more of a feel player, now I’ve combined the science with my feel and obviously the technology these days is out of this world.”

Campbell has 14 starts guaranteed on the Champions Tour, exemption into all the majors on the senior tour, as well as the European Tour and European Seniors Tour.

“I’m not here to play 30 events a year, I did that for years. I want to play 15 events, do well, win a couple of tournaments, say thank you and then move on for next year. I’ve done the grind, I’ve done the hard work, I’m not 25 years old, I’m 50, so I want to just enjoy life,” he said.

“I feel that if I keep fit and my body is healthy, I feel I can actually do well out there again. It’s amazing how things can come back quickly.”

Still, Campbell is an anxious as anyone to see how he will go when he tees it up at The Hills at 12.38pm.

“I want to do well, of course, but I don’t know what to expect. We had many discussions about the senior tour and I still move the same as 20 years ago, but it’s more a mental thing for me now,” he said.

“It’s healthy to get nervous on the first tee. I’ll be nervous on the first tee, no question.”

Generous with his time for media ahead of the 100^th New Zealand Open, Campbell, one of the most respected opinions in New Zealand golf share his thoughts on a range of topics including…

Campbell On Ryan Fox:

“I think Marcus Wheelhouse has done a great job of his technique, and maybe it needs a little bit more tightening. Confidence-wise he’s out there with the best players in the world and when you get to play with the best players in the world, like he has on the European Tour and America you get to see how these guys perform and you learn off them, like I did when I was playing with Tiger and Mickelson and those guys.”

On the future:

“I’ve been fortunate enough to get 14 starts on the Champions Tour. I start after Augusta, I’m not playing Augusta. I’m exempt on all the majors on the senior tour and also I’ve got a full card on the European tour so I’ve got a choice of lots of tournaments to play inI feel that if I keep fit and my body is healthy, I feel I can actually do well out there again. It’s amazing how things can come back quickly.”

On wanting to win again:

“My kids were too young to understand the importance when I won a tournament, but now they understand fully.”

One look into the jetlagged eyes of Ryan Fox is testament that winning the 100th NZ Open would be a very special milestone in his career.

Photo courtesy of PhotoSportNZ

The highest ranked New Zealander in the world has travelled halfway round the globe to be in Queenstown this week, backing up from last week’s WGC – Mexico Championship to tee it up at The Hills and Millbrook.

“This would be right up there. A major would be bigger for a career, but to win an NZ Open is something that I would want to have on my resume at the end of my golfing career. The 100th one would be a pretty nice one to win as well,” he said.

“I was always coming back for this, it was probably a tougher decision to go last week but considering where I was on the world rankings, it was worth the gamble to potentially get into Augusta.”

Michael Hendry set something of a precedent in 2017 when he returned from the same event in Mexico and became the first Kiwi player to win the NZ Open in 14 years.

Fox, who claimed his maiden European Tour victory at the tri-sanctioned ISPS HANDA World Super 6 in Perth two weeks ago, has started the past few NZ Opens as the local favourite, and this week is no different.

“I guess winning a couple of weeks ago probably didn’t help all the expectations in that regard, but it’s always going to be the same,” he said.

“The Kiwis always want a Kiwi to win and I’ve been lucky enough to be the highest ranked one the last couple of times and not quite lived up to those expectations, so hopefully I can do a little bit better this year.

“I don’t necessarily feel any extra pressure, obviously there’s going to be a few more people out watching, but I enjoy playing in front of decent sized crowds and I’m more used to it than I was three or four years ago.”

With the likes of Tim Wilkinson, Steve Alker and a rebooted Michael Campbell in the field, Fox rates the chance of a New Zealand winner for the second time in three years.

“It’s probably the strongest contingent of New Zealanders we’ve had in a while, which is cool, and hopefully that translates into one of us lifting the trophy on Sunday night.”