Aussie wins New Zealand Open, again
Another year, another Australian winner of the New Zealand Open.
Victorian rookie-pro Zach Murray is the latest from across the ditch to snare the Brodie Breeze Trophy, after outgunning Kiwi Josh Geary in the final day of the tournament’s centenary tournament.
Murray, who led at the end of each of the first three rounds, fired a final round four-under 68 at The Hills in Arrowtown to finish 21-under the card, two shots clear of second-placed Geary and Australian Ashley Hall.
The 21-year-old Aussie pocketed a cool $225,000 for his efforts, not bad for his first career win since turning pro in November. He won the Western Australian Open as an amateur last year.
Murray is believed to be the first wire-to-wire winner of the tournament since Kiwi Sir Bob Charles in 1953.
Australians have now won the New Zealand Open seven of the previous eight tournaments. Michael Hendry (2017) is the only Kiwi to get his hands on it the past 15 years.
Murray, who made only six bogeys all tournament, carded four birdies and an eagle in his final round, and had to withstand a late surge by Geary, and countryman Hall.
In the final group with Murray, Geary looked on song after opening with consecutive birdies to grab an early share of the lead.
However, four bogeys between holes 5-11 dropped him well off the pace, only for a fortuitous break on the par-five 13th to setup an eagle, and a late run.
Geary’s approach looked destined for the left-hand hazard, only to take a couple of lucky bounces and race past the pin. For a moment, an albatross looked on.
The Kiwi, who lost his European card last year, followed his eagle with consecutive birdies to get to 19-under, but the problem was Murray also went eagle, birdie, birdie.
Up three shots with a hole to play, there were a couple of anxious moments after a wild tee shot, and terribly over-cooked approach, left Murray well out the back of the green.
However, he avoided disaster with a well-hit wedge, before going on to make bogey a moment after Geary had to settle for par.
Steven Alker and Harry Bateman were the next best Kiwis, finishing 16-under for a share of eighth.
Ryan Fox, the top-ranked (67th in the world) New Zealander, finished a shot back in a share of 11th.