Kennedy all class in gripping NZ Open
AUSTRALIAN veteran Brad Kennedy has continued his love affair with golf tournaments on Kiwi soil, winning the New Zealand Open by two shots from compatriot Lucas Herbert in a gripping finish.
Queenslander Kennedy closed with a faultless eightunder 63 at Millbrook Resort near Queenstown yesterday, the equal-lowest round of the tournament.
His 21-under tally followed his victory in the same tournament in 2011, when he headed off Australian Craig Parry in a playoff in Christchurch. Three of 45-year-old Kennedy’s five Australasian PGA Tour titles have been claimed in New Zealand, having also won the NZ PGA Championship four years ago.
Overnight co-leader Herbert, who’d won the Dubai Desert Classic in January, needed a birdie on the parthree final hole to force a playoff but sent his tee-shot into the water and he finished second after a 67.
An earlier splash landing, on the par-five 13th hole, cost Lucas the lead when he carded a double bogey.
It happened during of a string of three birdies midway through the back nine for Kennedy and the world No.135 held 82nd-ranked Victorian Herbert at bay.
Torquay’s Ben Eccles, who trailed by a shot after the first two rounds, faded at the weekend to finish in a tie for 18th, 12-shots behind Kennedy.
Eccles shot an even par 71 on Saturday and finished with a one-over 72 yesterday, a week after securing his Asian Tour card.
Fellow Geelong golfer Deyen Lawson finished tied 30th, 14 shots off the pace.
It was a sweet result for Kennedy, who had recorded seven top-10 finishes at his 11 appearances without clinching a win.
The most painful of those results were back-to-back third placings last month at the Queensland PGA Championship and Queensland Open.
“I was going through a lot of emotion out there today. I’ve been close the last two events and felt as though I let them slip,” Kennedy said.