Round 4: Live Updates

• 6:35pm – Our champion didn’t make a bogey in the final three rounds and finished at -23. It’s his first big win as a pro.
• 6:30pm – Presentation underway now on the final green. Ryan Peake earns a start at The Open Championship and jumps to number two on the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.
• 6:10pm – Ryan Peake is the 104th NZ Open champion!
• 5.55pm – Peake birdies 17 thanks to an under pressure two-putt. He’s now -23 and one ahead.
• 5.50pm – Ian Snyman’s putt for -23 lips out on 18. He’s in the clubhouse with Thompson and Higa at -22. What action here at the end!
• 5.45pm – Four-way tie with South African Ian Snyman making four on 17 to get to -22 and he’s hit it close on 18
• 5:43pm – Japan’s Kazuki Higa birdies 17 and is now on -22. It’s a three-way tie as we enter the closing stages
• 5:36pm – Jack Thompson finishes at -22 and now he waits. Ryan Peake -22 with two to play
• 5:30pm – It looks like it’s all over for our overnight leader Guntaek Koh who is +3 for the day and three behind
• 5:22pm – Tie for the lead! Jack Thompson birdies the par-5 17th to get to -22. He’s -8 in his final round.
• 5:15pm – Ryan Peake pars the 15th and still leads by 1 from Jack Thompson, Ian Snyman and Kazuki Higa
• 5:00pm – Jack Thompson birdies the 16th and is right in the fight, one behind fellow Aussie Ryan Peake.
• 4:52pm – Six players within two shots as we come to the final holes. Big finish ahead.
• 4:30pm – American John Catlin has signed off on a 7-under 64 and is now T6. Good week for the Asian Order of Merit champion
• 4:20pm – Koh bogeys the 13th and he’s now at -21, one behind the new outright leader, Ryan Peake who made it up and down out of the greenside bunker.
• 4:15pm – We have joint leaders! Ryan Peake birdies the 12th to catch Koh at -22. Game on!
• 3:30pm – There is a multi-cultural chase to decide the 2025 New Zealand Open Champion midway through the final round, with Korean Guntaek Koh leading on xxx under, Bobby Bai (China) and Ryan Peake (Australia)two shots back, and three shots to Ian Snyman (South AFrci) and Kazuki High (Japan) .
• 3:20pm – Birdie for leader Guntaek Koh to restore a three shot lead over four chasers midway through his round.
• 3:05pm – Former champion Michael Hendry has closed with a 66 to finish at -15 for the tournament
• 3:00pm – Seven holes into his final round and Guntaek Koh leads Ryan Peake and Bobby Bai by two shots.
• 2:35pm – If you’re not with us at Millbrook, broadcast is now underway on Sky Sport in NZ and Foxtel/Kayo in Australia
• 2:30pm – Another good closing round has come from former champion Zach Murray, a 6-under 65
• 2:25pm – West Australian lefthander Ryan Peake is now in a share of second at -20, three behind, after a birdie at the fifth.
• 2:20pm – First-round leader Harrison Crowe has just finished off a 7-under 64 to climb into the top 10 as the leaderboard stands at the moment
• 1:35pm – Kiwi Denzel Ieremia has jumped up the leaderboard with an eagle and three birdies in 11 holes to move to 13-under to a share of 25th place.
• 1.32pm – Back-to-back birdie starts for Bobby Bai and Kazuki Higa sees them close on the leader, both to 19-under and three off the lead of Guntaek Koh who made par at his opening hole.
• 1.31pm – Australian Lucas Herbert has been super-impressive today with an eagle, 4 birdies and 1 bogey to move to -15 and a share of 9th place.
• 1.30pm – Movers today include Australian Jedian Morgan who has fired six birdies and a dropped shot to move to 14-under and a share of 14th.
• 11.30am – There’s an early move from Aussie Lucas Herbert who has started eagle-birdie-birdie to get to equal ninth, eight shots behind
• A beautiful day here at Millbrook Resort as the first groups tee off. Today we crown the 104th New Zealand Open Champion and someone will claim the spot at The Open.
• Welcome to the final round of the 104th New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport

End of round 3

• 6:35pm: The leading five players are five different nationalities with the leading kiwi Sam Jones, after his stunning 10-under is on 15-under and seven shots from the leader.
• 6:30pm: Second round leader Guntaek Koh shot a five-under 66 to finish on 22-under with a five shot lead into the final round.
• 6:20pm: Western Australian Ryan peake fired a 7-under 64 to finish on 18-under, currently 4 shots off the lead in second place.
• 6:05pm: Japan’s Kazuki Higa shot a 9-under 65 to move to 17-under and outright second place, currently five behind leader Guntaek Koh who has two holes to play.
• 6:00pm: – Australian Elvis Smylie fired a second consecutive 66 to finish on -16 currently in a share of 4th overall.
  “I am confident in my game. I may be six shots back tomorrow but I will focus on my game and go as low as i can. The goal is still to win.”
• 5:05pm – Kazumi Higa speaks about his round:”The course today was very good. I slotted most of my important putts today so I was very happy with that. I love this course and it was nice conditions to play today.”
  4.50pm – With two eagles in his round, Japan’s Kazumi Higa has fired a 62 to climb to second place at -17, five behind Koh
• 4.30pm – Bang! Shot of the day from Koh who holes out for eagle on the short par-4 12th and he now leads by six.
• 4.20pm – Koh’s four-stroke lead remains with seven holes left to play. Fellow Korean Hakhyung Kim has locked in a 64 to climb to T8.
• 4.00pm – Into the back nine in the third round and it’s Guntaek Koh -20, Ryan Peake -16, Sam Jones -15, Kazuki Higa -15, Ian Snyman -14, James Marchesani -14
• 3.40pm – Bown eying potential final round at NZ Open

  Kiwi golfer Mark Brown is setting himself up for potentially his final round at the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport.

  The 50-year-old fired a six-under 65 to finish on 12-under, but he is adamant he will not take up an invite to prevent a younger player getting into the field.

  “I will have to play myself in not take up an invite. So tomorrow could be my last time at the New Zealand Open,” said Brown, who was runner-up in 2014, the first year of the Pro-Am format.

  He has no serious thoughts of playing the Seniors Tour.

  “I get one year exemption on the Seniors Tour courtesy of winning on the Tour, so I may take up that option more for experience and travel to Europe with my wife,” said Brown.

  He was happy with his game today in what he said was pristine conditions, especially for someone who does not play too often these days.

• 3.30pm – Our leader has made a rare bogey – on the par-4 eighth, and now leads by five.
• 3pm – Some great action on the short par-4 7th hole. James Marchesani makes an eagle to bounce back from a double-bogey on the 6th. Guntaek Koh rolls in another birdie to reach -21 to go six ahead,
• 2.30pm – Live TV coverage is now underway on Sky Sport in NZ and Foxtel/Kayo in Australia. Tune in to see some great golf on a wonderful layout.
• 2.20pm – A few words from Sam Jones after his 61:

  “It’s been a bit rough out there the first couple of days. Struggled a little bit on the greens, haven’t been swinging it great. But yeah, that’s golf. Sometimes these things happen and you just take them for what it is. Don’t try and get too high when the things go good. And then don’t try and get too low when the things go bad. So just take it as it comes and just go from there.”

• 2.10pm – A nice day out for last year’s runner-up Scott Hend who has signed off on a 66 to move into the top 20 at the moment
• 1.55pm – Three birdies in a row for Koh who is now -20 and five ahead. What a start from the leader.
• 1.45pm – Koh is unstoppable at the moment. He’s made it two birdies in two holes to start his third round and is now -19.
• 1.35pm – Lock it in – a superb 10-under-par 61 from New Zealand’s Sam Jones who has rocketed to second at -15.  His round featured eight birdies and an eagle on the par-5 17th.  Sam is coming off two top-fives in events in South Africa, co-sanctioned with the European Challenge Tour.
• 1.20pm – Koh birdies the first and his lead is now four.
• 1.10pm – The big move so far today has come from New Zealand’s Sam Jones who is -8 for the day with two holes left his his round. He’s climbed to fourth at -13, four from the lead.
• 1pm – It’s round 3 of the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport and our leading group has just teed off. Korea’s Guntaek Koh leads the way from Aussie James Marchesani. Not as much bright sunshine today but still no wind so expect plenty of low scores this afternoon.

End of Round 2

• 7.30pm – 67 players have made the cut for the final two rounds.
• 6.45pm – Players from 11 nations are included in the 66 players currently under the cut-line for the leading 60 players plus ties with three groups still on the course.
• 6.30pm – The cut looks set for 5-under and there are currently 66 players at that number or better but still a number fo players still on the course.
• 6.25pm – Leading kiwi is Josh Geary who is on 10-under par playing the final hole.
• 6.20pm – Korea’s Guntaek Koh is on his way to the midway lead in the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport. He is 9-under-par through 16 holes to lead on 16-under-par.
• 6.15pm – A 3m birdie putt on the final hole for kiwi star Steven Alker has enabled him to reach 5-under for the tournament and quality for the final two rounds.
• 5.30pm – What a round from Australia’s Jed Morgan. He eagles the last hole on the Coronet course to post a 9-under 62, one off the course record. His first round was a 73.
• 5.25pm – Friday afternoon cut line action. The number now needed is -5 or better. All those at -4 are now outside looking in.
• 5.05pm – Another hot man on course is Australia’s Jack Thompson who has climbed in the top 10 thanks to being -7 through 12 holes of his second round.
• 4.55pm – There’s a new joint leader. Korean Guntaek Koh has got very hot and is now up to -14, level with James Marchesani. He’s -7 for the day through 12 holes.
• 4.30pm – Cut line watch. The professionals at -3 can plan their weekend and the ones at -4 are keeping a close watch.
• 4.20pm – Some words from our leader, James Marchesani on whether he’s worried about the threat from former champion Michael Hendry who is four shots behind

  “I should say yes, but I’ll say no. I know he is a local favourite and he’s a very good player too, and playing some good golf, Mike. So look, if we can have a battle down the stretch, who knows? But look, I’ll just try and do my own thing.”

• 4.10pm – Korean Guntaek Koh is up to a share of third place at -11, three from the lead with nine holes left in his second round. Next best on course is Aussie Simon Hawkes at -9.
• 3.30pm – With the afternoon field well into their rounds, the nearest challenger to the lead held by James Marchesani is Korea’s Guntaek Koh who is five shots behind with 11 holes remaining.
• 3.00pm – The battle is on for the top 60 players plus ties to make the cut to the final 36 holes. Right now the cut is looking like 4-under with 17 players tied in 49th place on that number…. and those outside that line include fiormer NZ Open Champions including Brendan Jones, Brad Kennedy, Zach Murray, Jordan Zunic, Dimitrious Papadatos and Matthew Griffin.
• 2.40pm – The top 10 players are all in the clubhouse with the leading player still on course is Korea’s Guntaek Koh in a tie for 11th.
• 2.20pm – Michael Hendry speaking to the media:

  “I got off to a slow start and caught fire through the middle of the round. I holed a shot and a chip and it fell into place more by good luck than good management to tell the truth. I am going to need to play better over the weekend than I did today.”

• 2.10pm – Low round of the morning was a 63 from Australian David Micheluzzi who has jumped into a share of eighth at -9.
• 2pm – James Marchesani double-bogeyed his final hole but still leads by 1 shot after a second round of 65. He’s at -14, one clear of Bobby Bai (China) who carded a 64. Michael Hendry is well in touch in a share of fourth at -10. He’s had back-to-back 66s but was happier with his ball striking yesterday.
• 12.45pm – Great scoring conditions again this morning with only two over-par rounds in the top 50 players on the leaderboard. They’re from overnight leader Harrison Crowe (+1 through 13) and Lucas Herbert (+2 through 17).
• 12.30pm – James Marchesani has built his lead to four shots at -14 thanks to an eagle on the par-5 14th on the Remarkables. Michael Hendry holding steady in second at -10 with China’s Bobby Bai who is playing in the group behind the leader.
• Noon – The 2017 champion Michael Hendry has his 5th birdie in 14 holes to move to 10-under and second place, with Elvis Smylie (-3) and Bobby Bai (-4) on -9. Biggest mover is Japan’s Ren Yonezawa who is -6 through 13 holes to be on -9.
• 11.30am – Biggest movers on day two at -4 for the day are 2017 winner Michael Hendry and Australians David Micheluzzi and Austin Bautista all on -4 through their first nine holes, with Daisuke Kataoka , Japan compatriot Ren Yonezawa, Elvis Smylle and James Marchesani all on -3.
• 11am – Victorian James Marchesani has built a three-shot lead thanks to five birdies in his first eight holes in round two. He’s at -13 for the tournament. Kiwi Michael Hendry is also -5 for his round and has jumped to second at -10.
• 10.30am – Also on the move this morning is Order of Merit leader Elvis Smylie with three birdies today to move to -8, while Michael Hendry has pushed on with a fourth birdie to moe to -9 through 8 holes today.
• 10.00am – Fast start for former NZ Open winner Michael Hendry with three birdies in his opening six holes to move to 8-under. Others on the move early are Australians James Marchesani with two birdies to move to -10, and Austin Bautista with 4 birdies in 5 holes to move to -7 on picture-perfect morning at Millbrook Resort.
• Welcome to Round 2 of the 104th New Zealand Open

End of Round 1

• 6.30pm: Sydney’s Harrison Crowe, a former NSW Open winner as an amateur, will be our overnight leader after a fine 9-under-par 62 on the Remarkables course this afternoon. 
• 6.00pm – Harrison Crowe has taken the outright lead at the NZ Open presented by Sky Sport. He’s now at -8 with two to play. Lucas Herbert has completed his round at -7 and is happy with his putting after making an equipment change this week.
• 5.30pm – There’s now four players at -7 thanks to a birdie on Coronet No.17 from Ripper GC’s Lucas Herbert.
• 5.25pm – Huge bounce back from Crowe. An eagle on the par-5 14th on the Remarkables and he’s now regained a share of the lead at -7.
• 5.10pm – Harrison Crowe’s share of the lead has disappeared. A double-bogey and he’s back to -5.
• 4.45pm – We have a new joint leader. Harrison Crowe has birdied the 12th hole on the Remarkables to move to -7.
• 4.30pm – Scoring conditions are so favourable at Millbrook today that we have 120 players out of a field of 156 at even-par or better as round one enters its last couple of hours.
• 4.20pm – Australia’s Harrison Crowe is the first player in the afternoon groups to reach -6 and with eight holes still to play he may well go past our leading duo. 
• 4pm – The lead at the NZ Open presented by Sky Sport is still held by Australia’s Kevin Yuan and Korea’s Guntaek Koh who have the afternoon off after shooting 64s this morning. Koh has four Tour wins on his record, while Yuan is still chasing his first big title.
• 3.45pm – Former champion Michael Hendry is also on the move. He’s -4 through 11 holes on day one.
• 3.40pm – One of the best rounds of the afternoon is coming from Australian PGA champion Elvis Smylie who is -4 through 10.
• 2:20pm – Review has Australia’s Kevin Yuan and Korea’s Guntaek Koh share lead on 7-under, both from Coronet course, with Australian Travis Smyth on -6 and 9 players all on -5.
• 2.10pm – A quote from Josh Geary:

  “It was a bit of a shaky start the first few holes, made a few rough swings and missed two or three good chances. I’m happy as I haven’t lost too much touch to the leaders. So that’s sort of the goal round one.”

• 1.40pm – Kiwi Josh Geary, fresh from his win in the Vic Open, shot a 5-under round – so far equal best on the Remarlables course at Millbrook and currently a share of fifth.
• 1.15pm – Australian Kevin Yuan fired 7-under on Coronet to claim the early lead.
• 12.20pm – A few low scores to start the day! Brent Rumford is the first in the sheds with a -5 66. Kevin Yuan and Travis Smyth are currently 1 shot ahead with a few holes to play.
• 12:00pm – Thanks for joining us for the live blog from the 104th New Zealand Open. Don’t forget to tune into Sky Sport from 2.30pm for the LIVE broadcast!