First Kiwi NZ Open champ in 14 years

Trophy and the first New Zealander since Mahal Pearce at Middlemore in Auckland in 2003.

“This is the one I wanted the most of any trophy and I’ve got it now,” Hendry said. “I think for most of the Kiwis in the field, if it’s not one of the four [Majors], it’s this one. To have the New Zealand Open trophy and have my name on the NZ PGA trophy as well, it’s pretty sweet.

“Once it had been decided that there was going to be a playoff, I felt pretty comfortable. Seventy-two holes are over and I was thinking to myself, just a few more shots.

“I was dead-keen to win the trophy hands down and obviously the New Zealand golfing public and golf fans around New Zealand are going to be pretty chuffed that a Kiwi has finally won it and I’m going to be chuffed that that Kiwi happened to be me.”

Hendry said his back-to-back eagles at the end of his round on Saturday were the key to his victory.

“That was the winning of the tournament this week. They gave me the opportunity to execute the game plan that I wanted [yesterday]. Right then and there was when I won the golf tournament.”

Campbell, beaten in a playoff at the NZPGA championship last week, was again in a share of second yesterday, but it was rich reward for a young man who has fought back from debilitating injuries that have thwarted a promising career.

“It’s been amazing how much support I’ve had this week from back home. I’ve had that many messages, I haven’t been able to reply to all of them yet,” Campbell said. “It was great having all that support out there this week and the crowds cheering me on definitely helped.”

Kennedy was steady throughout, recovering from a double bogey on the first hole to shoot an even-par 71.

Australian Deyen Lawson enjoyed an excellent tournament in fourth on 18-under, a shot ahead of compatriot Jack Wilson.

Five players shared sixth place on 16-under, including New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, who shot 11-under par on the weekend sparked by his remarkable 63 on Saturday.

He shared this slot with defending champion Matthew Griffin, the 2014 winner Dimitrios Papadatos, and fellow Australians James Nitties and Andrew Dodt.