Josh Geary has equalled Michael Hendry as the most prolific winner on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour with his fourth Carrus Tauranga Open title.

Despite holding a gargantuan nine-shot lead heading into today’s final round, his fourth win at home didn’t come easy. The deficit was reduced to a shot after the opening six holes following a less-than-ideal start, where he bogeyed four of his opening six holes compared to his playing partners Tyler Hodge and Golf New Zealand National Academy member Josh Bai, who played the same holes in four-under.

The experienced Bay of Plenty professional held his nerve during the closing stretch. Hodge birdied the 16th to tie the lead, but Geary saved his best till last, draining a 20-foot birdie putt to win by a shot.

He says the victory feels great after a stressful day at Tauranga Golf Club.

“I tried my hardest not to win,” Geary laughs. “It feels good to get across the line.

“To be the most winningest player on the tour is a great achievement. It’s not something I strive for, I just try and win everything I tee it up in.

“There is no better practice than days like today – being under the pump for ten holes in tough conditions is great for your game. Just to have that chance was very satisfying.”

Geary certainly showed his big-game experience down the stretch. After his abysmal start, he birdied seven and eight to get his game back on the straight and narrow.

He parred his way to the 18th, smashed a perfect drive down the middle of the fairway, and hit a wedge shot that danced around the hole before spinning back to 20 feet below the hole.

The door was slightly ajar after Hodge narrowly missed his birdie, and Geary took his opportunity, rolling in a pure putt to seal a meaningful win.

The 38-year-old says he drew on everything he’s learned as a professional to overcome the early scare.

“That was a bit of a shock. I got off to a bad start – I drew a couple of bad lies and a couple of short putts missed and the boys were simply on fire.

“After about five holes, I thought that something was going to go my way soon. I proceeded to bogey six and I drew on some previous experience and told myself not to panic. I knew something was going to happen in this round, surely!

“I said to myself that if I can shoot under par from here, it would probably be good enough – It was all on me. I started to play a bit better coming home but I missed a lot of makeable putts and it seemed as though every tree I hit, I got a bad bounce. It was just one of those days.

“On the last, I hit a good putt, and it went in. I just tried to stay patient and trust that something was going to go my way.”

Geary will now turn his attention to defending his DVS Clearwater Open in a couple of weeks’ time.

Josh Bai finished as the low amateur, two shots ahead of his good friend Kazuma Kobori, while New Zealand Maori Golf champion and Bay of Plenty representative Hunter Edwards.