Kiwi amateur in top 15 at NSW Open

Wellington golfer Daniel Hillier continued his hot form with a top-15 finish in the New South Wales Open.

The 19-year-old, fresh from winning his second New Zealand Amateur title in Christchurch, finished 11-under to be tied for 14th in the Australasian PGA Tour event at Twin Creeks in western Sydney.

Hillier was best of a strong contingent of New Zealanders, finishing 13 shots behind runaway winner Jason Scrivener of Western Australia. Pro Scrivener shot a final round of sevenunder 65 on Sunday to be six shots clear of Victorian Lucas Herbert.

Hillier was right in the fight at halfway after rounds of 69 and 67, but closed with 70 and 71. His final one-under round was a mix of four birdies and three bogeys.

After finishing the top New Zealander at the recent AsiaPacific Amateur Championship, sixth-equal at Royal Wellington, Hillier confirmed he would remain in the amateur ranks for at least another year.

Fellow New Zealand amateur Ryan Chisnall was next best Kiwi on seven-under, tied for 35th. Chisnall, from Nelson and targeting qualifying school in Australia next month, slumped to a third-round 77 before finishing with 69.

Kiwi pro Brad Shilton also finished seven-under, after a final round 72. Gareth Paddison, Mark Brown, Josh Munn and Kieran Muir were all two-under.