LIVE BLOG – 105th New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort

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Day 4 – Sunday 1 March

• For instant access to updated Tee times and scoring, check out the New Zealand Open app!
• Final Round Updates
• 6:30pm
  Leading final scores:
  262 – Daniel Hillier (NZL)
  264 – Lucas Herbert (AUS) 
  267 – Tomoyo Ikemura (JPN) 
  267 – Kerry Mountcastle (NZL) 
  268 – Travis Smyth (AUS)
  270 – Charlie Lindh (SWE) Wade Ormsby (AUS) Ren Yonezawa
  271 – Naoyuki Kataoka (JPN)
  272 – Michael Hendry (NZL), Ryosuke Kinoshita (JPN), Jay Mackenzie (AUS), Rintaro Nakano (JPN).
• 6:14pm – Hillier becomes the 105th New Zealand Open champion.
  “It’s the second best day of my life after my recent wedding.”
• 6:12pm: Daniel Hillier wins the New Zealand Open – making par on the final hole to win by two shots. He is doused in champagne from friends and fellow golfers, and embraced by his nwife and family.
• 6:02pm – Lucas Herbert makes par – so Hillier needs to make bogey or better – he will want to ensure he does not go in the water.
  He will try to become the first kiwi to win the Brodie Breeze Trophy since Michael Hendry in 2017, following on from Mahal Pearce in 2003, David Smail in 2001 and Michael Campbell in 2000.
  No doubt here to present will be Sir Bob Charles who won the last of his four times in 1973.
• 6:00pm: Herbert misses with his birdie chip on the par-3 final hole, but Hillier makes a clutch birdie putt on thr 17th to give him a two shot lead going to the final par-3 18th.
• 5:50pm: Lucas Herbert makes birdie on the par-5 17th to move within one shot of the lead. 
  But leader Daniel Hillier is on the par-5 17th in two.
• 5:40pm: Dan Hillier retains a two shot advantage over Lucas Herbert with two holes retaining.
• 5:35pm: The only amateur to make the cut, reward for 19 year old Yuki Miya who shot 74 today in the tough conditions, finishing on 10-under in a share of 19th as the leading amateur.
• 5:30pm: Through 15 holes, Dan Hillier retains a 2 shot lead.
• 5:15pm: Hillier, after three birdies in four holes,  managed a par at the par-5 14th with Herbert making birdie which leaves the Kiwi with a 2 shot lead.
• 4:40pm: Jay McKenzie (AUS) & Rintaro Nakano (JPN) hold the clubhouse lead on 12-under.
• 4:35pm: Six holes to go for Dan Hillier – now on 21 under after a superb birdie on #12. He has 3 shots on Lucas Herbert and 5 to fellow Australian Travis Smyth.
• 4:20pm: Dan Hillier bounces back with a short birdie putt on the 11th to move to 20-under and a two shot lead over Lucas Herbert and four to Travis Smyth.
• 4:05pm: Australian Travis Smyth birdies the 12th to move to 16-under in third, with Mountcastle now back to fourth at 15-under, joining Ikemura and Yonezawa. 
• 4:00pm: On to the homeward nine – Hillier drops his first shot with a missed short putt to be at 19-under  while Herbert makes birdie at the 10th but Mountcastle drops one to be four back from the leader.
• 3:30pm: Hillier misses a key birdie putt on the 8th but remains at 19-under but Lucas Herbert makes bogey to drop to 17-under, one ahead of Kerry Mountcastle up to 16-under and with Travis Smyth and Ren Yonezawa both on 15-under.
• 3:15pm: Tit-for-tat midway through the round with birdies to Hillier and Herbert – with the kiwi maintaining his one shot advantage, with Mountcastle now three shots back.
• 3:00pm: One shot separating the top three players one-third of the way through the final round. However Australian Curtis Luck has made double bogey on the sixth to fall back to 14-under and a tie for fifth. In today’s conditions, it may come down to who blinks …
• 2:30pm: It is tight at the top – leader Dan Hillier has made 4 straight pars to lead by one from Lucas Herbert (1-under today), and Kerry Mountcastle, with a further shot to Curtis Luck who is 1-over today. The mover is Ren Yonezawa – 3-under today – to join Travis Smyth on 14-under.
• 2:00pm: Kerry Mountcastle has joined Dan Hillier in a share of the lead at 18-under, one shot ahead of Lucas Herbert and two to Curtis Luck. Conditions are improving.
• 1:30pm: Best out on the course is Rintaro Nakano (Japan) at 3-under today to on -10 in a tie for 2`1st and Connor McKinney (Australia) also on 3-under thru 13 holes to be at 9-under for the tournament.
• 1:17pm: Charlie Lindh from Sweden has made two birdies in his first six holes to move to 12-under and a six-way share of eighth. 
• 1:15pm: Australian Lucas Herbert has made birdie at the first to move into a three-way trip at 17-under, one behind Daniel Hillier. There is still light rain falling which will provide plenty of challenges.
• 12:35pm: Kevin Na has birdied his opening two holes to move to 13-under and a share of fifth place – but dropped a shot on the 3rd Hole.
• 12:45pm: Korea’s Chan Choi has moved to 13-under and a share of fifth after a birdie at the 2nd Hole.
• 12:30pm: Exciting pairing just off with world-leading Champions Tour’s Steven Alker and leading amateur, teenager Yuki Miya just off on their round in light rain and cool conditions.
• 12:15pm: American Jack Maguire has mixed 4 birdies with one dropped shot in his opening nine holes to move to 9-under.
• 12:05pm: The 2011 and 2020 Champion Brad Kennedy has started with a birdie to move to 10-under while five-time USPGA winner Kevin Na has also birdied the opening hole to move to 12-under and a share of ninth.
• 12Noon: There is a cool wind that will test players today.
• 11:55am: The 2017 Champion Mike Hendry has birdied the opening hole to move to 11-under and a tie for 13th.
• 11:35am: Hongtaek Kim from Korea has also joined a group of 7 on 10-under – with 2 birdies in four holes.
• 11:32am: Sanghun Shin from Korea is the big mover on the final morning – 5-under through 8 holes to move to 10-under and a share of 19th
• 11:25am: 44 players are now off on their final round, with the leaders due to tee off at 1pm
• 11:20am: It is cool here today and there has been light rain but looks to be clearing now for excellent conditions.
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Saturday Rd 3 Wrap

• “I knew there were a couple of par-5s I could take advantage of later in the piece. Thankfully I could do that and pretty cool to get one at the last as well infront of that massive crowd.

  “Looking ahead to tomorrow I would love a replay of that and some more. Obviously I have a job to do. I will rest up tonight and have a good sleep and come out firing.”

• 6:50pm: Dan Hillier finished eagle-birdie for a round of 64 and takes a one shot lead into the final round tomorrow.
• 6:10pm: Dan Hillier has eagled the 17th to move to 17-under.
• 5:45pm: Curtis Luck and Kerry Mountcastle are both on 18-under on the final hole with a chance of a new course record in this new championship layout. Meanwhile Dan Hillier is just three shots back with two holes remaining.
• 5:30pm: Kiwi Dan Hillier has gone birdie-birdie to move to 15-under par, two shots off the lead, still with three holes to play.
• 5:15pm: Curtis Luck and Kerry Mountcastle have two holes remaining, leading on 17-under, one shot ahead of Lucas Herbert who finished with a 62 to be one shot back on 16-under. Kiwi Dan Hillier has four holes remaining, sittling on 14-under.
• 4:15pm: Australian Curtis Luck and kiwi Kerry Mountcastle share the lead on 15-under with six holes each to extend that number. They are a shot clear of Lucas Hurbert, with kiwi Daniel Hillier on 13-under but still with seven holes to play.
• 3:50pm: An 8-under par 63 for Tomoyo Ikemura has moved the Asian Tour-based Japanese player on 13-under par after three rounds, currently one shot off the pace. He shot five birdies on the front nine holes, and three more birdies in the final five holes.
• 3:25pm: It is getting tight at the top – 11 players within three shots including co-leaders Curtis Luck, Lucas Herbert and Kerry Mountcastle.
• 3:15pm: After a quiet start, US-based kiwi Steven Alker has made two birdies in three holes and jumped to 11-under and three shots off the lead.
• 3:10pm: Curtis Luck made birdie at the 9th to make it a three way group on 13-under with Lucas Herbert and Daniel Hillier.
• 3:00pm: Daniel Hillier has moved to a share of the lead on 13-under after a birdie at the 7th, while Kerry Mountcastle dropped a shot – meaning the pair shared the lead. That was until Mountcastle birdied the 9th to retake a one-shot lead.
• 2:40pm: It is packing up at the top of the order with Kerry Mountcastle on 13-under but with just one shot over six chasers on 12-under in fellow kiwi Dan Hillier, India’s Karandeep Kochhar (IND), Australians Lucas Herbert, Curtis Luck and Travis Smyth and Doyeob Mun (KOR).
• 2:20pm: Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura has bagged six birdies in 14 holes – the hottest player today – and moved do a tie for sixth.
• 2:00pm: Five birdies in seven holes sees Australian Lucas Herbert to 12-under and a four-way share of second place.
• 1:30pm: A third birdie in four holes sees kiwi Kerry Mountcastle move to a one shot lead on 13-under. Make that four birdies in five holes – with a 2 shot lead over Hillier and Smyth.
• 1:22pm: And Kerry Mountcastle moves to 12-under with his second birdie to join in a 4-way lead.
• 1:20pm: An eagle, 3 birdies and a dropped shot sees 2017 champion Michael Hendry at 9-under and three shots off the lead….
• 1:05pm: Daniel Hillier birdies the first hole to join fellow kiwi Yuki Miya in the lead at 12-under and one shot back India’s Karandeep Kochhar has made 3 birdies in four holes to make it a 4-way group on 11-under.
• 12:55pm: Tomoyo Ikemura continues his hot run – 5 birdies in 8 holes to move to 10-under and a share of 10th…. and Aussie Lucas Herbert makes 3 birdies in 4 holes to join him on 10-under.
• 12:50pm: The leaders are now away and a huge crowd enjoying the sunshine are sure to witness some remarkable golf this afternoon.
• 12:37pm: 2017 winner Michael Hendry continues his forward move mixing an eagle, 2 birdies and 1 dropped shot – now on 8-under and a share of 14th.
• 12:35pm: The Japanese charge continues with Tomoyo Ikemura 4-under through just seven holes to move to 9-under par in a share of sixth.
• 12:30pm: Australian Brett Rankin and Japan’s Riki Kawamoto are also 3-under today both through 7 holes…. to move to 7-under.
• 12:20pm: Ikemura and Kinoshita are both 3-under through 6 holes today to move to 8-under.
• 11:40am: Tomoyo Ikemura and and 2017 Champion Michael Hendry have both made two birdies in their first seven holes to move to 7-under and a share of 12th.
• 12:05pm: 2011 & 2020 winner Brad Kennedy along with Japan’s Ryosuka Kinoshita have moved into the top-10 with 5 birdies between them today.
• 11:30am: Half of the 28 players who have teed off have made birdies on their opening hole – the conditions for scoring are perfect.
• 11:05am: Also first hole birdies for Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura and Ryosuke Kinoshita and Korea’s Taehoon Ok – conditions are glorious so expect plenty of low scoring.
• 11:00am: Kiwi former European Tour player, Mark Brown has made an early birdie to move to 5-under at the 10th hole of the composite course. He is in the first group off on that side of the draw.
• 10:25am: Two-time New Zealand Open champion Greg Turner, who claimed the Brodie Breeze Trophy in 1989 and 1997 suggests a 6.15pm finish for today’s third round to have the tournament back on schedule.
• 10:20am: About to tee-off in the third round of the New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort. It is a two-tee start with all tee times on the website.
• 9:50am: Play will get underway in Round 3 at 10:22am with the final pairings at 12:45pm.
• 9:30am: Missing the cut are six former New Zealand Open champions comprising Ryan Peak (2025), Brendan Jones (2023), Zach Murray (2019), Matt Griffin (2016), Jordan Zunic (201`5) and Dimitrios Papadatos (2014).
• 9:20am: The cut is at 2-under par with 69 professionals and one amateur in leader Yuki Miya. Play is expected to start around 10.30am with a two-tee start. 
• 8:45am: There are approx 8 groups still on course to complete their second round. Officials will then finalise and make the draw for round 3. The course team will also require time to re-tweak the course, with play for the final two rounds to be played on the composite course at Millbrook Resort.
• 8:40am: At present the cut for the Top-60 Pros is at 2-under par which will include 68 professionals plus Christchurch amateur Yuki Miya, our current leader.
• 8:10am: Best placed of players on the course is 2020 Champion Brad Kennedy from Australia, who is in a group of players on 6-under, sharing 18th place – he has just one hole to play and is 3-under on his round.
• 7:55am: We are expecting fine sunny periods here in Arrowtown today with a high of 23C deg.
• 7:40am: Welcome and good morning to day 3 of the New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort.
  We have play underway with a number of groups still to complete their second rounds. From there will come the cut for the top 60 professionals plus ties.
  The third round will be played off two tees to ensure this round will be completed. 
  Amateurs who have not made the cut with their teams will enjoy a stand-alone competition day at The Hills which is close-by Millbrook Resort in Arrowtown.
• 8:40pm: Not much daylight left here but an outstanding round from Wade Ormsby, a 6-under par 65 for a share of second place. On the other side of the draw Kevin Na shot a 4-under 67 for a share of sixth.
  The cut is currently at 2-under par but several players will need to complete their rounds tomorrow morning before the final cut and draw.
• 7:50pm: Expecting a further 40-50mins of playable conditions – with Wade Ormsby with three holes to play now at 10-under for the tournament in a share of fourth place – and a genuine challenger. His playing partner Kevin Na is just one shot back in a share of sixth. There are currently 68 players on the cut of 2-under par. 
• 7:10pm: The cut is still at 2-under with 68 players currently on that mark or better – with the top 60 plus ties progressing.
  Ormsby is the best of the players on course at 9-under, a shot ahead of Kevin Na – in a powerful pairing.
• 6:55pm: The cut is still looking at 2-under, with 14 players currently on that mark.
• 6:50pm: Wade Ormsby continues on the move at 4-under today and 9-under in a share of 5th place,with Kevin Na one shot back in T9. They have 6 holes remaining.
• 6:30pm: Don’t count out Kevin Na who has moved to 3-under for the day and 8-under for the tournament with eight holes remaining.
• 6:25pm: The cut for the top 60 pros plus ties is looking to be 2-under at present – currently there are 63 on that number. And our last group are through 6 holes – so that will be unlikely to get through today….
• 6:15pm: Further down the field chasing a qualifying spot are former NZ Open Champions in Brad Kennedy, currently in the top-20 at 5-under; Michael Hendry at 3-under in a tie for 34th with 8 holes left.
• 6:05pm: Japan’s Kinoshita Ryosuke is also moving north 3-under for today and 6-under for the tournament.
• 6:00pm: Wade Ormsby continues forward, at 8-under for the tournament – 3 for today’s round, and into the top-10. Na is one shot back but also in the top-10.
• 5:40pm: Kevin Na and Wade Ormsby are making progress up the leaderboard – both at 7-under after 7 and 6 holes respectively and into the top-10. Can they get through 11 holes before dark – or be forced to complete in the morning?
• 4:50pm: With the top-9 in the clubhouse, the next in line is Australian Wade Ormsby, currently at 7-under through four holes of his round as one of the late starters – and may not complete his round today.
  Likewise Kevin Na, 5-under on his first round, is 1-under for his round through just four holes to be in a tie for 13th at present with a lot of golf ahead of him. Conditions are stunning – warm and clear – let’s see of that is the case around 8pm tonight when he will be eying the end of his round.
• 4:45pm: Christchurch teenager Yuki Miya fired a 5-under 67 to move to 12-under and the clubhouse lead after 36 holes. But the young rising star said he was not as pleased wit his ball-striking today – and realises he is in new gorund, leading a major professional tournament.
• 4:07pm: American Kevin Na has made a hot start to his late afternoon tee-off, making birdies at the opening two holes on Coronet to move to 7-under.
• 4:05pm: Kiwi Kerry Mountcastle enjoyed a run of eight birdies in 13 holes to finish with an 7-under 64 and 10-under, one shot behind the current three-way lead.
• 3:55pm: Travis Smyth makes it a three-way lead with a second round 63 to move to 11-under. It was a long day for the Australian who had seven holes this morning to complete his first round and then a 40-min break before his second round. 
• 3:35pm: Watch for the run from Australian Travis Smyth who is playing his last home and has moved to 7-under today, one shot behind the current leaders.
• 3:30pm: A birdie at Coronet No 13 has presented Christchurch teenager Yuki Miya a share of the lead with compatriot Daniel Hillier on 11-under.
• 3:00pm: Despite dropping a shot at the par-3 last hole, kiwi Dan Hillier has the clubhouse lead with a second round 68 to move to 11-under par.
• 2:25pm: Perth-based Curtis Luck has shot a three-under 68 to move to 9-under and the clubhouse lead.
• 1:35pm: Australian Travis Smyth has bagged three birdies in four holes to jump to a share of sixth with 8 holes left today.
• 1:15pm: Barron has made it five birdies without a dropped shot  to mve to 6-under and a share of sixth with 4 holes to play.
• 1:10pm: Haydn Barron continues his move – starting from the 10th on Remarkables Nine, he has bagged 4 birdies without blemish to move to -5 and a share of 7th overall
• 12:25pm: Fresh from his maiden tour victory at the Webex Players Series Murray River, West Australian Haydn Barron is 3-under through 10 holes today – starting on 10 at the Remarkables course – the best scoring so far today. He is in a hot group with American Curtis Luck 2-under today and currently in third overall on 8-under.
• 11:55am: Dan Hillier has bagged his second birdie thru 7 holes startiong on the 10th at the Remarkables, to move to 10-under, one shot clear.
• 11:35am: The players are apprecaiting the fine, clear conditions this morning with 30 players currently in red figures in their second round.
• 11:30am: Kiwi Dan Hillier eagles his 5th hole of the day starting on the 19th at the Remarkables course to join Miya in a share of the lead at 9-under.
• 11:10am: Among those further back in the field who are in red numbers today include NZ’s Nick Voke -2 after 3, Mark Brown with 2 birdies, with James Hydes (AUS), Taichi Nabetani (Jpn) and American Austen Truslow all with two early birdies.
• 11:05am: Australian Matias Sanchez has picked up an early birdie to join in the lead at 8-under. Kiwi Dan Hillier dropped one on his opening hole to slip one back on 7-under.
• 11am: The players left on-course after the weather delayed first round have completed their rounds in superb conditions at Millbrook Resort. 
  Christchurch teenager Yuki Miya finished with a brilliant 8-under 63 to lead the way.
• 8:30pm: The Live Blog is closed for the evening. Have a great night!
• 8:15pm: Play is officially suspended due to darkness. Players will be back on course tomorrow to finish round 1, and then straight into round 2! Cross your fingers for some better weather tomorrow!
• 7:55pm: Some light drizzle falling which suggests the end of play may not be too far away – with Matias Sanchez leading on 7-under from Kevin Na, Wade Ormsby on 5-under, along with Yuki Miya, the leading amateur, currently with 7 holes remaining. There are nine on 4-under with Koburi in the clubhouse, but Curtis Luck, Dan Hillier, Yoshida and Watney still on the course. And 43 players on 2-under … with the horn expected to blow anytime.
• 7:45pm: How much daylight is left in what are the best conditions of the day 
• 7:35pm: PGA Tour American Nick Watney has joined the hot run to be 4-under through 8 holes on Coronet.
• 7:30pm: The still early evening conditions have brought some hot scoring – like Japan’s Tanzei Shimizu who has made five birdies in six holes to jump to 3-under.
• 7:20pm: Hold on – late in the evening, with the cool and clear conditions prevailing, top kiwi hope Daniel Hillier has made three birdies in a row to turn at 4-under on Coronet.
• 7:15pm: Not sure how long the daylight will hold – hopefully the back-markers will get through nine holes tonight – but in the meantime Matias Sanchez has jumped to 6-under and the sole lead with five holes to play.
• 7:05pm: The 20-year-old wonder kid Miya has made his fifth birdie in his first eight holes on the Remarkables to go to the joint lead on 5-under – playing in the group with New Zealand Open Chairman, John Hart.
• 7:00pm: Late on in this challenging day of weather, two others are charging with Australian Matias Sanchez at 4-under through 11 holes, and has been joined by Japan’s Taiki Yoshida has joined him on 4-under through six holes.
• 6:40pm: Twenty-year-old Christchurch NZ Academy player Yuki Miya has made a storming start to his round. Teeing off the back nine of the Remarkable course, the amateur is 4-under through seven holes.
• 5:32pm: Wade Ormsby has stormed up the leaderboard on the Coronet course with a -5 66 and is now joint leader with Kevin Na. Ormsby is currently the only player in the top 9 players on the leaderboard from the Coronet course. 
• 5:03pm: Kobori drops a shot, and falls back into second at -4. Kevin Na currently is still the leader at -5. The chasing pack at -3 are hunting them down!
• 4:46pm: Kobori hits his tee shot into the water on his last hole of the day! Can he recover?
• 4:30pm: Kevin Na is sitting atop of the leaderboard at -5 and is now in the clubhouse!
• 4:25pm: Kazuma Kobori if at -4 with two holes to play on the Remarkables course.
• 3:45pm: The rain continues to fall here at Millbrook Resort but the players are pushing on and playing through.
• 3:30pm: New Zealand’s Kazuma Kobori has holed in one on the par-3 fourth hole to jump to 4-under par.
• 3:15pm: Kevin Na holds off the kiwis on 4-under with 5 holes to play in a delayed and wet start. He is one shot ahead of kiwi Steven Alker on 3-under, hometown pro Ben Campbell and 2017 winner Michael Hendry, both on 2-under.
• 2:45pm: Multiple PGA winner Kevin Na and world-leading Champions Tour kiwi Steven Alker hold a one-shot lead midway through their opening round – both at 3-under on the Remarkables course.
• 1:45pm: The Remarkables course is proving more friendly in the rainy conditions for the opening round of the New Zealand Open, in partnership with Millbrook Resort. Currently 18 players are under par through the opening nine holes with 15 of them playing the Remarkables and three on the Coronet course.
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• 1:15pm: American Kevin Na, who said he was excited to make his NZ Open debut, is the early leader at 3-under par through seven holes on the Remakables course.
• 12:25pm: US Champions Tour star Steven Alker has started strongly – with former All Black Jeff Wilson on his bag. Alker is 2-under through three holes on the Remarkables course in a 3-way share of the lead with fellow kiwi Sam Jones and Korea’s Hakhyung Kim.
• 11.50am: Kiwi hopes 2017 champion Michael Hendry, local star Ben Campbell and one of the leading Seniors professionals Steven Alker all 1-under to open their campaigns.
• 11.35am: 5-time USPGA winner Kevin Na has birdied his first hole on the Remarkables course to join the early leaders.
• 11.30am: American Chase Koepka and Australians Douglas Klein and Jedlah Morgan are all 1-under par in the early stages of the rain-delayed start to the New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort.
• 10.40am: Play is getting underway after a 3hr weather delay in cool overcast conditions.
• 9.16am: Play will start at 10.40am
• 8:21 am: Play will not resume before 9:40 am – Next update no later than 9 am 
• 7:40 am: Play suspended due to the course being unplayable.  We’re aiming to restart at 8:40am. 
• 12:01 am: LIVE Blog will start from 7:45 am
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