BRENDAN JONES FINISHES STRONGLY TO WIN

                                                                      By NEVILLE IDOUR

What an absorbing final day unfolded at the 2023 NZ Open Presented by Sky Sport at the award winning Millbrook Resort. It produced some stunning golf and in the end a decisive and deserving winner in Brendan Jones (Aus) when a multi player playoff looked likely. But it was only in the last three holes that the likely winner emerged from the bunch of 11 players within one shot.

Surprise overnight leader Shae Wools-Cobb found his first experience leading into a final round  very difficult early on. A dreadful start saw him bogey the first hole then double bogey two and four to fall four behind leader Christopher Wood. He would eventually finish-10 (T26). Wood plugged away to finish tied 6th on -14.

Harry Hillier(NZ) began the day -5 well off the lead but led the local charge with a superb -8 round of 63 to end his tournament on -13.(T12)  John Lyras (Aus)(T2) who struggled in the third round and began the day on -8 would have a -7 round to be in the clubhouse tied for the lead on -15 and watch the last few holes unfold.

Gareth Paddison was the best of the other New Zealanders early on and after 17 bogey free holes had picked up five birdies to move to -11. Sadly the island 18th green for the second time eluded him and he found the water leading to another double bogey. Those costly four dropped shots on the one hole spoiled an otherwise good tournament and highlighted how tough the game can be.

Champions PGA Tour star Steven Alker had an uneventful final round. Bogey free with two birdies he finished tied 30th on -9.

Brendan Jones (Aus) was looking likely with two early birdies and was one from the lead after nine holes. John Lyras (Aus) was also making a move to -14 after 16 holes. Tomoyo Ikemura (Japan)(T2) sank a long putt to eagle the par 5 10th and tie the lead with Wood, fellow Japan player Terumichi Kakazu(-13 T12) and Queenstown’s Ben Campbell who was on a hot streak.

Campbell’s front nine had just the lone birdie to be on 11 under par with no inkling of what was to come. He eagled 10 the par 5 with a 45 foot putt which ignited the gallery. A par on 11 was followed by excellent birdie putts on 12 and 13. Meanwhile Wood would drop out of the lead after missing a two foot par putt on 10. Campbell narrowly missed his birdie on 14 then gave himself all sorts of problems on the 160 metre par 3 with a wayward tee shot left in the rough. His low chip had far too much on it and went off the green and  the double bogey stung as he dropped back to -13.

He would bounce back with a two foot birdie putt on the driveable par 4 14th. Another short birdie putt on the 17th gave him a share of the lead again but a birdie on 18 seemed to be a minimum requirement. It was not to be however after calm reflection it had been a fine effort after all the injury woes and surgeries of the last year. The T2 finish no doubt will have given him more confidence as he returns to the Asian Tour

Michael Hendry(T6) and Daniel Hillier(T12) were adding a greater kiwi prescence on -14 after 13 holes. Hillier had birdied four of his first five holes on the second nine sinking some nice putts. Hendry would finish on that score while Hillier inexplicably missed a two footer par putt on 16 to finish -13. Kazuma Kobori the leading Kiwi starting the day bogeyed his first two holes, battled back with three birdies then another bogey on 13 left him where he started on 12 under par. Luke Toomey was another Kiwi making a move with a four under round to finish on -12.(T17)

Korean Jaewong Eom had joined the leaders on -15 after 14 holes. Birdies on 9,10,12 and 14 had lit up his round. At this stage four players were tied on -15 with another six breathing down their necks on 14 under. Eom would finish on -15.(T2)

Kazuma Kobori (T6th)was fighting back with five birdies by the time he reached the par 5 17th on -14. Par was the best he could do on the last two holes. It had been a fine effort from the talented amateur and his progress will be watched closely. A professional career is surely on the horizon.

Brendan Jones had stolen the solo lead with a birdie on the par 5 14th, then stiffed his tee shot on the drop down par 3 15th to a foot to extend the lead to two shots. On the par 5 17th his second shot to the green got lucky. It went right towards the hazard and bunker hit the slope and bounced into the bunker rather than the water. A bunker shot to two feet and another birdie effectively shut the gate. A comfortable par on 18 sealed the deal to end what had been one of the great NZ Opens.

Jones was a little emotional afterwards. “ I have supported this event for many years and didn’t think I would win it but it is all a bit unbelievable. I have done it and I played some great golf. I looked at the leaderboard on the par 3 18th and thought I might only need a six to win. I didn’t want that though.” It was a popular win for the Aussie Japan Tour stalwart who takes home NZ$297,000.

The weather was kind and large numbers rolled up to give the event a festive feel and great atmosphere. Can’t wait for 2024.