Three players lead NZ Open
Just when it looked like Australians were going to have a monopoly on the sharp end of the New Zealand Open leaderboard through the first round, an American and Japanese player delivered.
On a calm, mild day in Arrowtown which most players labelled ‘‘perfect’’ for hot scoring, late-starters Jarin Todd (USA) and Japan’s Tatsuya Kodai carded scorching nine-under par rounds on Thursday to grab a share of the tournament lead with Aussie Daniel Nisbet.
Nisbet, Kodai and Todd recorded the pick of a host of low rounds on the opening day, and ensured the trio will head into Friday’s second round with a onestroke lead over Australians Andrew Dodt, Andrew Martin and Travis Smyth.
Kiwi Harry Bateman is one shot back in a share of seventh place, while fellow New Zealanders Josh Geary and Gareth Paddison are six-under and tied for 11th.
Having decided to compete after tournament director Michael Glading slipped him a flyer while competing on the Asian Tour in Indonesia last year, Todd recorded his blemish-free round (nine birdies and nine pars) at The Hills. Not that he was completely satisfied with his game.
‘‘I didn’t actually drive it very
well at all today, but when I hit bad shots I got decent breaks and I was able to get it around. I hit some really good shots too,’’ he said.
Kodai and Nisbet also carded their bogey-free rounds at The Hills, with Nisbet lighting up the back-nine with six birdies as he made his way back to the clubhouse in 30 strokes.
It included his first ever birdie on the 167m par-three 16th, a hole he labelled daunting.
‘‘It’s normally my nemesis, but I hit one to within about two inches. So it was nice to walk off that hole with a two rather than a lot more than I normally do.’’
Having started his round on the back nine at the par-71 Millbrook course, Bateman scratched his way through the first nine holes and wasn’t sitting pretty after finding the water hazard on the par-3 18th.
But he hit the reset button and nailed six birdies to shoot 29 on his way out, just the second time in his career he’s done so, and the first since he won the Harewood Open last year.
‘‘Keep breathing. Keep the same processes going, it’s easy to get a little bit ahead of yourself in these big events,’’ Bateman said when asked how he’d approach his second round.
As far as finishes go, it doesn’t get much better than what Dodt produced on Thursday.
The Queenslander carded five birdies and an eagle down the stretch at The Hills to finish eightunder the card – not bad considering he was only one-under through 12 holes in what he called ‘‘very easy’’ conditions.
‘‘I was starting to get a little anxious thinking I need to make some putts soon,’’ Dodt said when explaining his mindset going into the par- five 13th.
What followed – birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie – ensured he will head into Friday’s round at Millbrook right in the thick of it.
Kiwi amateur Mark Hutson and Palmerston North’s Tim Wilkinson are tied for 41st after four-under rounds, while defending champion Aucklander Michael Hendry finished twounder at The Hills to sit in a share of 86th with top-ranked Kiwi Ryan Fox. Masterton’s Ben Campbell, who last weekend won the NZPGA Championship in Palmerston North, is tied for 60th at threeunder with fellow Kiwis Mark Brown, Steve Alker and Jared Pender.