History

The New Zealand Open is an iconic event, steeped in the history and drama dating back to 1907.
1900191019201930194019501960197019801990200020102020
ca ae
1907
There had been competition golf played since 1893, but in the inaugural New Zealand Open at Napier Golf Club a record 130 players participated. The field included 123 amateurs and seven professionals and was dominated by amateur legend A.D.S.(Arthur) Duncan who became the first New Zealand Open Champion. Napier Golf Club
Otago Witness  September
1908
J.A.Clements from Wanganui was only 19 years old when he became the first New Zealand born professional to win. He went on to become prominent in the games development. He went on to win again in 1909 & 1912. Otago Witness - 30 September 1908
shirly
1910
A.D.S.Duncan dominates at Christchurch's Shirley course winning with a total of 295, a tournament record that would stand for 20 years. Duncan won again in 1911 at Belmont in Wanganui.
E
1913
E.S. Douglas, a newcomer from Scotland won his first NZ Open in bitter conditions at Balmacewen. He went on to defend in 1914 at Auckland's Middlemore course, then after the NZ Open was not played during the war years returned to make it three in a row in 1919. That event was back at Napier Golf Club. Douglas would win for the last time in 1921. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/
NZOpenCup
1920
J.H.Kirkwood becomes the first Australian to win, being the only player to record all four rounds in the 70's. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
Duncan pic for golf
1924
The Jellicoe Cup for the lowest individual round was presented by Earl Jellicoe of Scapa. The inaugural winner was A.D.S.Duncan with a score of 71. Duncan finished runner up to E.J. (Ernie) Moss in an event played at Middlemore. Moss would win again in 1927 & 1933.
mirramar
1926
Andy Shaw won the first of his seven New Zealand Open Championships. At Miramar in this year he beat E.J. Moss in an 18 hole play-off. Shaw went on to win four in a row, 1929-1932, 1934 and 1936. Shaw was truly a legend of the game in this era.
Brian Silk e
1934
The Bledisloe Cup for leading amateur at the New Zealand Open was presented by Viscount Bledisloe with the inaugural winner Brian Silk.
NZOpenCup
1937
Scottish professional Alex Murray, having won in 1935, was sensationally disqualified after returning the best four round total. He had practiced his putting on the fringe of a green on the 8th green in the final round. Amateur J.P.Hornabrook went on to win in a three way play off. He would win again in 1939. Murray would bounce back to win in 1948 & 1952. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
NZOpenCup
1938
South African legend Bobby Locke wins at Balmacewen. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
bobglading
1946
After returning from the war Bob Glading won back to back New Zealand Open Championships.
peterthompson
1950
Peter Thomson wins the first of his nine New Zealand Open Championships.
f ea c be edfcbdcf ls  gi
1954
18 year old amateur sensation Bob Charles stares down two of the best players in the world, Peter Thomson and Bruce Crampton to with the first of his four titles.
 harry berwick title sequence golf swing golf tournament
1956
Australian Harry Berwick wins the New Zealand Open when beating Bob Charles and Stuart Jones by two strokes at Shirley.
Kel Nagle
1957
Kel Nagle wins the first of his seven New Zealand Open Championships, in an era dominated by Australians, particularly Thomson.
Gary Player e
1958
One of the games greats Gary Player finishes 3rd behind Nagle and Thomson.
NZOpenCup
1964
The New Zealand Open Championship becomes a stand-alone event and no longer played beside the Amateur Championship. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
bobcharles
1966
Bob Charles wins his first New Zealand Open as a professional. Played at Paraparaumu Beach and a strong field including England's Tony Jacklin, Charles won by a record 13 strokes which still stands today.
simon owen e
1976
Simon Owen wins his only New Zealand Open Championship at Heretaunga.
Payne Stewart  by Ed Balaun
1980
The legendary Payne Stewart traveled down under playing in the New Zealand Open. Stewart went on to win three majors before his tragic death in 1999.
Ian Baker Finch e
1983
Ian Baker-Finch wins his first national Open Championship, later going on to win the 1991 British Open.
Corey Pavin Colonial
1984
Another future major winner plays in the New Zealand Open. Corey Pavin won at Paraparaumu and returned the next year to successfully defend his title at Russley.
 Rodger Davis Masters
1986
Australian Rodger Davis sets the scoring record when winning his first of two New Zealand Opens at the Grange. He won by eight shots scoring 67, 62, 65 and 68. A young Jose-Maria Olazabal finished 7th. Davis won again in 1991.
1987
It took a seven hole play-off before Irishman Ronan Rafferty beat American Larry Nelson. Later that year Nelson won his third major championship, the US PGA.
 e
1989
Greg Turner wins his first New Zealand Open at Paraparaumu by six shots. He again won in 1997 at Auckland Golf Club. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
1992
Grant Waite wins his only New Zealand Open and along the way making an albatross two on the par 5 18th at Paraparaumu.
1995
The challenge with scheduling dates on the Australasian Tour mean an unusual year when two New Zealand Open Championships are played. Lucas Parsons won at Heretaunga in January and later in December Peter O'Malley was victorious at The Grange. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
1996
Michael Long completes his incredible haul of national titles adding the New Zealand Open to his Amateur (1990), Junior (1988) and Boys (1985) titles. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
1998
An emotional win for kiwi Matthew Lane at the new Formosa course in Auckland. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
2000
Michael Campbell shoots 64 in the final round to tie compatriot Craig Perks before winning with an eagle on the 2nd play-off hole. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
2001
David Smail wins his only New Zealand Open Championship. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
2002
World number one Tiger Woods plays the New Zealand Open at Paraparaumu but the event is affected by a terrorist threat. Woods finished in a tie for 5th. Australian Craig Parry won the title claiming it to be the most important win of his career at the time. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
2003
Mahal Pearce produces four sub-par rounds to win the 86th Open Championship. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
Good Heaven New Zealander rewriting Rocket record book
2004
Amateur Brad Heaven nearly becomes the first amateur in 47 years to win the New Zealand Open, falling one shot short to eventual champion Terry Price.
 x x
2005
The New Zealand Open co-sanctions with the European Tour improving the quality of the field. Niclas Fasth wins in a play-off at Gulf Harbour. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
sirbobcharles
2007
The New Zealand Open moves to The Hills for the next three years. This is the final year of the European co-sanction, but is replaced for the next two by the USPGA secondary tour (Nationwide) co-sanctioning. Bob Charles becomes the oldest player to make the cut in an official European Tour event, aged 71.
2011
Despite the February 2011 earthquake which killed 185 people, New Zealand Golf retain Clearwater as the venue. Brad Kennedy wins in a play off from 2002 champion Craig Parry, while kiwi Josh Geary finished 3rd.
2014
The NZ Open returns to Queenstown with the Hills and Millbrook co-hosting the tournament. The National Championship introduces a new innovative pro-am format where amateurs and celebrities play alongside the pros. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
player jordan zunic BMWOpenD
2015
Jordan Zunic, only six weeks after turning professional, wins his maiden PGA Tour of Australasia title with an incredible -21 score © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
player matthew griffin TheHills
2016
Australian Matt Griffin narrowly holds off Hideto Tanihara to win the Brodie Breeze Cup. Followed by Mike Hendry, Shunsuke Sonoda and Yoshi Fujimoto with all of the top five playing on the Japan Tour. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
player michael hendry NZGolfOpenDayCS
2017
Michael Hendry won over fellow Kiwi Ben Campbell and Australian Brad Kennedy in a dramatic playoff. Both Campbell and Kennedy found the water on the 1st playoff hole and Hendry made par to be the first kiwi winner in 14 years. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
player daniel nisbett p Nisbet
2018
Australian golfer Daniel Nisbet become the 99th winner shooting a 62 to run down ovenight leader Terry Pilkadaris who had a 5 shot lead. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
player zach murray NZOpenDayMT
2019
In the 100th edition of the New Zealand Open Young Australian Zach Murray claimed his first win since turning professional finishing 21-under for the tournament. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
NZGolfRd
2020
Brad Kennedy joined select company as a multi-time winner of the New Zealand Open. The Australian held the Brodie Breeze Trophy for a second time after shooting an eight-under par 63 in the final round today to finish on 21-under par at Millbrook Resort.
© Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
NZOpenRound  Copy
2023
Brendon Jones claims the crown after just making the cut on the line, produced a standout 62 on Saturday and then drained back-to-back birdies late on Sunday afternoon when it seemed a stacked leaderboard was destined for a playoff.

© Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz
Previous Winners
Year
Winner
Score
Nationality
Venue
2024
Takahiro Hataji
267
Japan
Millbrook
2023
266
Austraila
Millbrook
2020
264
Austraila
Millbrook / The Hills
2019
266
Austraila
The Hills / Millbrook
2018
258
Austraila
Millbrook / The Hills
2017
266
New Zealand
Millbrook / The Hills
2016
267
Australia
The Hills / Millbrook
2015
266
Australia
The Hills / Millbrook
2014
270
Australia
The Hills / Millbrook
2012
287
Australia
Clearwater
2011
281
Australia
Clearwater
2010
274
USA
The Hills
2009
269
USA
The Hills
2007
274
England
The HIlls
2006
279
Australia
Gulf Harbour
2005
266
Sweden
Gulf Harbour
2004
271
Australia
The Grange
2003
278
New Zealand
Auckland
2002
273
Australia
Paraparaumu Beach
2001
273
New Zealand
The Grange
2000
269
New Zealand
Paraparaumu Beach
1998
279
New Zealand
Formosa
1997
278
New Zealand
Auckland
1996
275
New Zealand
Paraparaumu Beach
1995
272
Australia
The Grange
1995
282
Australia
Wellington
1994
277
Australia
Remuera
1993
273
Australia
Paraparaumu Beach
1992
268
New Zealand
Paraparaumu Beach
1991
273
Australia
Paraparaumu Beach
1989
277
New Zealand
Paraparaumu Beach
1988
273
Australia
Paraparaumu Beach
1987
279
New Zealand
Wellington
1986
262
Australia
The Grange
1985
277
USA
Russley
1984
269
USA
Paraparaumu Beach
1983
280
Australia
Auckland
1982
284
Australia
Christchurch
1981
285
Australia
Wellington
1980
274
USA
New Plymouth
1979
278
Australia
St Clair
1978
277
Australia
Wanganui
1977
290
USA
Auckland
1976
284
New Zealand
Wellington
1975
272
Australia
Hamilton
1974
283
USA
Christchurch
1973
283
New Zealand
Manawatu
1972
279
Australia
Paraparaumu Beach
1971
276
Australia
Otago
1970
271
New Zealand
The Grange
1969
273
Australia
Wanganui
1968
272
Australia
Christchurch
1967
275
Australia
Hamilton
1966
273
New Zealand
Paraparaumu Beach
1965
278
Australia
Auckland
1964
266
Australia
Christchurch
1963
273
Australia
Wanganui
1962
281
Australia
Titirangi
1961
267
Australia
New Plymouth
1960
281
Australia
Invercargill
1959
280
Australia
Paraparaumu Beach
1958
288
Australia
Hamilton
1957
293
Australia
Manawatu
1956
295
Australia
Christchurch
1955
280
Australia
Auckland
1954
280
New Zealand
Wellington
1953
295
Australia
Otago
1952
293
New Zealand
Wanganui
1951
288
Australia
Titirangi
1950
280
Australia
Christchurch
1949
283
New Zealand
Hastings
1948
294
New Zealand
Otago
1947
291
New Zealand
New Plymouth
1946
306
New Zealand
Manawatu
1939
291
New Zealand
Miramar
1938
288
South Africa
Otago
1937
299
New Zealand
Hamilton
1936
292
New Zealand
New Plymouth
1935
286
New Zealand
Christchurch
1934
288
New Zealand
Wanganui
1933
300
New Zealand
Titirangi
1932
289
New Zealand
Wellington
1931
287
New Zealand
Christchurch
1930
284
New Zealand
Manawatu
1929
299
New Zealand
Wanganui
1928
303
New Zealand
Otago
1927
300
New Zealand
Hamilton
1926
307
New Zealand
Miramar
1925
308
New Zealand
Christchurch
1924
301
New Zealand
Auckland
1923
312
New Zealand
Wanganui
1922
308
New Zealand
Manawatu
1921
302
Scotland
Christchurch
1920
304
Australia
Hamilton
1919
327
Scotland
Napier
1914
313
Scotland
Auckland
1913
303
Scotland
Otago
1912
321
New Zealand
Wellington
1911
319
New Zealand
Wanganui
1910
295
New Zealand
Christchurch
1909
324
New Zealand
Auckland
1908
335
New Zealand
Otago
1907
159
New Zealand
Napier

Sign up for News & Updates

OUR TOURNAMENT PARTNERS

sky white
cip website white
danu
dinersclub web white
poongsang
hyundai white
manukadr
oji
Rebel Sport Logo WHT website
sbs
nz
qdlc
millbrook
the hills
GolfNZ
Facebook
Send an enquiry
SLNSW  Bobby Locke
History

  • Hidden
  • Personal Details

  • Volunteer Role

  • Clothing

  • For general information please contact Benn Ashford at [email protected] and we'll come straight back to you!
Contact Us
[email protected]