Tae Koh wins at the NZPGA Championship held at Te Puke Golf Club.
Auckland-based professional Tae Koh shot a course-record, final-round 61 Sunday to win the 85th edition of the New Zealand PGA Championship by one stroke.
Tae Koh has played the round of his career to earn the biggest win of his young career at the NZPGA Championship held at Te Puke Golf Club.
It was a tight tussle all day between Josh Geary, Ryan Fox and Tae Koh and no one was prepared to predict any result as the back nine unfolded. It was all Koh on the front nine who was five-under for his first nine to be 17-under at the time to lead Fox and Geary heading into the final nine-holes.
Geary made his intention clear with an eagle on the 10th to sneak the into the lead. Fox then made his move with a chip in birdie on the 11th hole to along with Koh hold one shot behind Geary. Koh then went back-to-back birdies on the 13th and 14th to move one ahead. Geary on the 15th then grabbed the lead back and the crowd atmosphere was electric with three holes to play.
In the end it is was the persistent Koh who with a birdie, birdie, eagle on the last three holes put his hands on the 100-year-old NZPGA Championship Trophy, and sign for an incredible final round of 11-under
It’s Koh’s first NZPGA Championship and capped off a brilliant summer for him.
“Bit of a blur the entire day to be honest, hit it awesome, probably the best round of my career, super stoked.
“It's such a prestigious event, I’m just thrilled,” Koh said of his victory.
Leading female Momoka Kobori had another solid day and finished with nine-under as the leading female in the field for a share of 11th for the Championship. A great performance by Kobori in her first year as a professional.