Australian Matthew Millar has won the inaugural REBEL Sport Masters by four shots at the Wainui Golf Club.

Beginning the final round two shots behind leader, New Zealander Daniel Pearce, Millar fired a round of 4-under 67 for a tournament total 11-under 273 and to become the first winner of the 2018 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia season.

“I went out there today just trying to mind my own business, just trying to play my shots and knuckle down on every single one of them, I didn’t want to see any leader boards,” said Millar.

“I’m thrilled with the win and just really happy not to have dropped any shots out there today.”

Playing in gusty winds, Millar showed his experience and patience around the Wainui layout to remain bogey free and take out the tournament in fine style.

“I felt really good, there were just a couple coming in at the end, I hit a clunky wedge shot at the last,” added Millar.

“I had the ball under control and thank god I did because it was quite tricky today. I set myself a goal if I could get to 11 or 12-under today I’d be pretty hard to beat.”

The win is a just reward for Millar who is one of the most consistent Professionals on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, he recorded five top-10 finishes on the Tour last year including a seventh at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth.

“I’ve run second plenty of times and in a way that’s been a help because it focused me today to worry about what I’m doing. That was a real positive for me this week,” Millar added.

The win marks Millar’s second in New Zealand following his victory at the 2015 NZ PGA Championship.

Enjoying playing across the Tasman he has his eyes on completing the trifecta of events with a win at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open.

“We should move an Australian Open over here I might get a win then,” laughed Millar.

“I love coming to New Zealand, the people are great and I’ve never not enjoyed a trip here or played badly.

“I’d love to win the New Zealand Open, that’d be great but I’ve got a lot of work to do and it’s a different style of golf course to this.

“Some holes play similarly but I do like playing those courses (Millbrook Resort and The Hills).”

As an added bonus, Millar and his amateur partner Peter McCormack also won the pro-am tournament which was played in conjunction with rounds three and four.

Runner-up David Smail of New Zealand set the course alight in the fourth round with a blistering 7-under 64, to set a new course record at Wainui.

“I played a bit rough yesterday and couldn’t get going, I thought I was in for another bad week when I got here today,” said Smail.

“I started off with four birdies in a row and holed some long putts; it just felt like it was my day.”

Luke Toomey was another New Zealander who has a reason to smile; he hit a 6-iron in to the 160m par-3 11th for a hole-in-one.For his efforts he receives return flights to Europe thanks to tournament sponsor Cathay Pacific.

For his win, Millar receives AUD$15,000 and leads the 2018 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.

To view the 2018 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, visit pga.org.au.

For round four scores, visit pga.org.au.

The ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia now moves to Thirteenth Beach Golf Links in Victoria for the Oates Vic Open from 1- 4 February. Please visit pga.org.au for the full schedule.

New Zealand’s Nick Coxon and Daniel Pearce are tied at the top of the leaderboard on 7-under par midway through the second round at the REBEL Sport Masters.

Coxon began his round on even par and teeing off the 10^th he immediately got off to a flying start with a birdie.

A bogey on the 12^th hole, his only for the round, was quickly erased by four more birdies on holes 13, 15, 16 and 17 making the turn at 4-under the card.

“I actually played similar to how I played that back-9 yesterday,” said Coxon who shot four birdies through holes 10 to 18 in round one.

“Starting on the back today I was 4-under again so I guess I just like that back-9.”

It was a matter of staying patient on the front-9 for Coxon who only made a single birdie on the 8^th hole to finish his second round on 5-under par 66.

“I was getting a little frustrated not making anything on that front-9 but I did have a couple of good saves and then to birdie the 8^th was nice,” added Coxon.

The 21-year-old will likely find himself in one of the leading groups as the inaugural REBEL Sport Masters reaches the halfway mark in just his second appearance on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia. “It’s good to be up there at the top of the leaderboard but we’re only halfway so hopefully I can keep this up and we’ll see where I end up at the end of the week.”

Pearce, who also began from the 10^th tee today came out firing with a run of four straight birdies from the 13^th to the 16^th holes.

Two double bogeys in a row on the 17^th and 18^th holes threatened to de-rail his round but he was able to steady the ship and score three more birdies on his run home for a round two score of 3-under 68.

“It was pretty frustrating out there to be honest, I played probably better than I did yesterday I just got a little rushed there in the middle and made a couple of mistakes,” said Pearce.

“But I still played well so I’m happy with today. It’s been a little while since I’ve shot a couple of under-par rounds in a tournament so it’s good to be in front.”

Bouncing back from two double bogeys in a row played an important part in Pearce’s round and he said his birdie immediately following was one of his best shots of the day.

“I hit a really good 9-iron in to the first and it was probably one of my best shots of the day it was really good,” added Pearce.

“To double 17 and 18 was very frustrating especially being on 4-under at that point, I gave myself a pretty good talking to so it was good to hit a nice shot in there and get myself back on track for the back-9.”

The afternoon field is now on course.

New South Wales based Professional Austin Bautista and adopted New Zealander Peter Fowler share the early lead following the first round of the REBEL Sport NZ Masters at Wainui Golf Club.

Both Bautista and Fowler shot impressive rounds of 5-under 66 on a course that has been unforgiving to others in the field.

Bautista, in just his second year as a Professional, found the course to his liking while posting his early lead.

“It was a good round, I prepared well and the course suits my eye, I like the way it looks,” said Bautista who made just one bogey for the round, coming on the 17^th hole.

“This course is a shapers course, you’ve got to be able to work it both ways, you never get a dead straight shot off the tee especially on the back-9 with those back-to-back par-5’s (13^th and 14^th holes).

“You’re hitting cut, cut and then you go to the next hole and it’s hook, hook so you’ve got to be able to do both.”

He credited his management of the course and a patient putting game for his early lead in the tournament.

“I putted well, I didn’t make a lot of long putts but I definitely stuck it close to about 10 feet and when I got my opportunities I took them,” added Bautista

“I’ll stick to my game plan with the things I’m doing right and the things I didn’t do properly, I’ll obviously be trying to improve them.

“I’m here to win but so is everybody else, so I want to play better tomorrow and keep going.”

A dominant force in the senior’s game, Fowler finished third on the Staysure Tour (formerly the European Seniors Tour) in 2017, but is proving once again he still has what it takes to compete with his juniors.

“To score that in the first couple of weeks of the year is very pleasing, like most of us I don’t think we’ve done much practice, I know I certainly haven’t. It was a nice fresh morning and I think we got the best of it today,” said Fowler, who opened his round at Wainui Golf Club with a birdie.

“I drove the ball well; hit a lot of great iron shots and my putting today was the best it’s been in the last 12 months so I’m pretty happy.”

Given the dry weather New Zealand has endured recently, the course this week is playing hard and fast.

“It’s particulary tricky with the bounces, if you’re a little bit off you can pay a big penalty here off the dry turf, I was lucky enough to land on a lot of the greens,” added Fowler.

When asked how he’d look in the Black Jacket on offer this week, Fowler said he’d have no trouble slipping it on in his adopted country.

“I’d have no problem with that mate, I got my New Zealand citizenship so I could win a game of rugby,” Fowler joked.

Daniel Pearce was the standout performer in the afternoon field; he narrowly missed a birdie chance on the 18^th hole but finds himself outright third after shooting 4-under 67.

It’s a simple game-plan for the 2017 Coca-Cola QLD PGA champion this week at Wainui.

“I played solid all day really, I hit the ball quite nicely and just tried to roll in a few putts,” said Pearce.

“I’m playing aggressive, conservative golf this week I guess you could call it, I’m hitting a lot of irons off tees I think I only hit two, maybe three drivers.

“I’m just trying to get into a position to give myself a shot at the green.” New Zealand’s Michael Hendry, Brad Shilton, Nick Coxon, Campbell Rawson and New South Welshman Ruben Sondjaja are all three shots off the pace shooting 2-under 69.

Round two tees off at 7:30am local time with Austin Bautista off the 1^st tee at 12:45pm and Peter Fowler off the 10^th tee at 12:05pm.

For round one scores, visit pga.org.au.

Welcome to the 2018 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia season!

After a string of top-tips from Tour Insider, including the winner of the final event of the year, Cameron Smith at the Australian PGA Championship, we’re back for the first tournament of the year, the new REBEL Sport NZ Masters.

But before I focus on the future can we all please take a moment to reflect on the greatness of the 2017 season and my tipping! #getaroundme

Remember, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish!

It took TI a little time to warm up but by the end of the season I had tipped five winners and a further 22 top-10 finishes.

So on to 2018…again there was a little too much Christmas cheer for TI but here’s hoping we can shake off the dust and get straight to business with some winners!

It’s always tricky to pick form at this stage of the season and it would be no surprise to see one of the local guys slip on the Black Jacket this week, TI’s top picks are…

Michael Hendry

One of the marquee players in the field this week, the proud Kiwi lives about a 6iron away from Wainui’s front step where he is also a member, his course knowledge should be a big bonus this week. A few equipment changes in the bag for the NZ Open champ, if he gets comfortable look out.

Ryan Fox

Another Auckland boy and headlining alongside Hendry this week, it’s great to see two of the best golfers in the country supporting their home event. Foxy is carrying a stiff shoulder but I’m happy to have him as the pick of the field after his 2017 season on the European Tour.

Matt Millar

Mr. Consistent, he had a strong start to the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia last year where he made a habit of finishing inside the top-10. He and Lincoln Tighe have already got one up over the Kiwi boys Fox & Hendry, winning the four hole Australia versus New Zealand Challenge before the pro-am!

Peter Fowler

Brings more European flavour to the tournament along with Fox, his form on the European Senior Tour (now the Staysure Tour) has been fantastic, still plenty of fantastic golf left in Chook.

Ryan Chisnall

Ryan makes his Professional debut this week after earning status on Tour with a top-10 finish at Q-School in December, he played his amateur golf with the New Zealand Golf Academy and chalked up some strong results throughout the U.S. last year. TI is really looking forward to seeing how he goes in the Pro ranks.

Following a standout rookie year on the European Tour, Ryan Fox gets his 2018 campaign underway in his home country at the REBEL Sport Masters from 11-14 January.

The familiar surrounds of the Wainui Golf Club is the perfect launching point for what will be Fox’s second full season on the European Tour, he joins fellow Auckland golfer Michael Hendry as the marquee players in the field.

“It’s good, I don’t get the chance to play too much at home and on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia especially so it’s definitely a nice way to start the year,” said Fox who is a two-time winner on the Tour.

“I played a lot of golf on this Tour both as an amateur and as a Professional and it feels like home playing in these tournaments. It’s nice to come back out and support the Tour especially when it’s in New Zealand. 

“I’ve played Wainui a few times; it’s a good test of golf. From the weather we’ve had it’s going to be fairly dry and play pretty firm and fast so it’ll be a pretty tricky test I think, especially if the wind gets up.”

While he and Hendry, two of the top-3 ranked Kiwi golfers in the Official World Golf Rankings at 123rd and 125th respectively, will no doubt attract most of the fanfare this week, Fox said there is plenty of up and coming local talent to keep an eye on.

New Zealanders Ryan Chisnall, Nick Voke and James Anstiss all make their Professional debut after gaining status on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia through Qualifying School in December.

“Those guys have been playing really well for New Zealand over the last few years as amateurs and the transition to being a Professional can be really hard so it’s good to see them get through Q-School and get a category to start with,” added Fox.

“I’m sure they’ll all be excited this week, they deserve to be out here because they’re good enough players so I’m sure New Zealanders will be following their careers and would like to see them do well.”

The REBEL Sport Masters coincides with the final stage of the Asian Tour Q-School in Thailand and with a number of ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Professionals competing there, a great opportunity presents itself for a young Pro to get the 2018 season off to flying start.

As well as the lion’s share of the AUD$100,000 in prize money, the winner this week also receives full status on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia for the remainder of 2018 and the 2019 season.

“It’s a really good chance to win for those guys, Mike (Hendry) and I will obviously be trying to win as well but I’m sure those guys will be looking to start their careers off really well and if they can get an exemption early, it takes a lot of the pressure off,” added Fox.

On his own form, Fox said he’s just about overcome a niggling shoulder complaint, the result of playing 30 Professional tournaments across the globe in 2017, by far his busiest season as a Professional.

“I played a lot more golf last year than any previous season and throwing in the travel on top of that it’s not suprising there’s a few niggles,” added Fox.

“It’s just a little carryover from last year and it’s started to sort itself out over the break, I’ve been getting some treatment and it’s feeling good this week.

“It’d be nice to start the year without it but I’ve still got a little bit of time to get it all sorted before Europe kicks off properly in April again.”

The REBEL Sport Masters will be played at Wainui Golf Club from 11-14 January, round one begins Thursday at 7:30am local time with Ryan Fox teeing off at 8:00am.

Entry to the tournament is free to the public.

Reigning ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open champion Michael Hendry will have a home course advantage when the inaugural REBEL Sport Masters gets underway at Wainui Golf Club from 11-14 January.

Hendry will have the benefit of local knowledge when he tees it up at Wainui, one of the New Zealand clubs where he is currently a member.

“I’m a member here as well as Gulf Harbour and I live literally about three minutes up the road so it was a no-brainer to play, I’m always keen to support my golf course and New Zealand events as well,” said Hendry.

“It’s a fantastic golf course, a great layout but it’s going to be really challenging this week.

“It’s a tough golf course in soft conditions let alone in these hard and fast conditions. It’s just one of those things as players we’re going to have to realise; we’re going to get some pretty big bounces at times and they’re not always going to be good ones.

“Hopefully the guys can appreciate the golf course for what it is and so too can the spectators when they come and watch.”

The 38-year-old gets the chance this week to add a third national title to his name after winning the NZ PGA Championship in 2012 & 2013, and last year’s ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open where he became the first Kiwi to win since 2003.

“Absolutely it would be nice to say you’re a New Zealand Masters, New Zealand PGA and New Zealand Open champion, it’d be a pretty cool trifecta to have,” added Hendry.

“Obviously there’s no real history to the event yet but hopefully the guys behind the tournament can continue to drive it and make it bigger and better.”

Hendry, who plays on the lucrative Japan Golf Tour, said he was happy to support the new REBEL Sport Masters which tees off the 2018 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia season.

The proud New Zealander has also made the decision not to play the WGC – Mexico Championship, where he would be guaranteed at least US$40,000 in prize money, instead opting to defend his title at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open.

“I always like to try and front up as much as I can on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, it doesn’t always help with the schedules clashing as much as they do but I love playing my home Tour, I always have,” added Hendry.

“For me I don’t only just look at an event like this as good preparation for next week but the Tour, I think deserves, for want of a better term, the better players to play it more often."

Following the REBEL Sport Masters, Hendry will contest the SMBC Singapore Open, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour, giving him the perfect opportunity to fine-tune his game under tournament conditions this week.

“I like to support the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia as much as I can and if it can prepare me for bigger events in terms of prize money then that’s great.

“I’ve implemented a couple of changes in terms of equipment so whether or not I’m just struggling to get my head around those at the moment, I’m not sure.

“But I’ve played some good golf and some bad golf over the holiday break so hopefully getting in to that competitive mindset might help.”

The REBEL Sport Masters will be played at Wainui Golf Club from 11-14 January, round one begins Thursday at 7:30am local time with Michael Hendry teeing off at 7:50am.

Entry to the tournament is free to the public.