History

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

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

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.

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/

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

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.

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.

1934

The Bledisloe Cup for leading amateur at the New Zealand Open was presented by Viscount Bledisloe with the inaugural winner Brian Silk.

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

1938

South African legend Bobby Locke wins at Balmacewen. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz

1946

After returning from the war Bob Glading won back to back New Zealand Open Championships.

1950

Peter Thomson wins the first of his nine New Zealand Open Championships.

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.

1957

Kel Nagle wins the first of his seven New Zealand Open Championships, in an era dominated by Australians, particularly Thomson.

1958

One of the games greats Gary Player finishes 3rd behind Nagle and Thomson.

1964

The New Zealand Open Championship becomes a stand-alone event and no longer played beside the Amateur Championship. © Copyright Photo: www.photosport.nz

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.

1976

Simon Owen wins his only New Zealand Open Championship at Heretaunga.

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.

1983

Ian Baker-Finch wins his first national Open Championship, later going on to win the 1991 British Open.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2024

Takahiro Hataji becomes the first Japanese player to claim the New Zealand Open after a 4-under final round at Millbrook Resort saw him clinch victory over Australian Scott Hend. Mogie Adamchik

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