Hillier fulfils career goal with NZ Open triumph

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New Zealand craved a home nation victory in the NZ Open presented by Millbrook Resort and Daniel Hillier delivered with an emotional triumph today.

Breaking a nine-year drought for Kiwis in their home open, Hillier showed the prowess which has grown significantly in his international travels in the past five years to fire a final-round 4-under-par 67 and beat Australia’s Lucas Herbert by two shots with a total of 22-under-par.

It’s the eighth professional win of the 28-year-old’s career, his first since the British Masters on the DP World Tour in 2023, and clearly the one that has meant the most.

“It’s the second best day of my life behind my wedding last week,” Hillier said after calmly making a par on the last in front of a passionate home crowd that ringed the par-3.

“I think this is going to be one of the best days of my life forever.

“I don't know what number New Zealand Open this is for me, but ever since I started playing it, it was the one I wanted to get.

“I'm so stoked I managed to do it today.

“Everything that came out afterwards was just pure emotion.”

Herbert, who also closed with a 67, admitted following Saturday’s play that the sports fan in him would love to see Hillier win his national open and that view didn’t change post-round today despite being the one to finish as the runner-up.

“I thought it was a nice thing to look out there and see Dan a week into marriage winning his national open,” he said.’

“I don't know life gets much better than that for him at the minute. Yeah, there's a part of it that smiles at that.” 

Herbert’s reward for second includes a start at The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale as the leading player not already exempt for the year’s final major.

“There's a lot of positives to take out of today,” the Victorian said.

“I think I said yesterday (I was) 3-over through three on Thursday, and I made two bogeys for the rest of the week. I'm pretty proud of that. The way I was able to fight back and get myself a ticket to Birkdale.”

The final round started with four players within two shots of the lead and seemingly the only players with a realistic chance of victory.

The first of the expected final-round challengers to slip away was Australia’s Curtis Luck, who bogeyed his first two holes before a wayward tee shot led to a double-bogey on the sixth.

He couldn't muster a comeback, eventually carding a 79 to drop away to a share of 23rd.

Meanwhile, New Zealander Kerry Mountcastle’s chances were hit by two bogeys in four holes around the turn. He battled on to shoot an even-par 71 to tie for third with Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura (67).

That left Hillier against Herbert as the top two facing off, albeit a group apart, for much of the last 10 holes to decide the champion, the key moments coming at the par-4 11th and 12th holes which the New Zealander birdied while the Australian made two pars.

“I never really thought it was going to be easy,” the new champion said.

“I knew there were going to be some guys challenging me today.

“Herbie's obviously a class player and I saw him up there towards the end and knew I had to keep my head down.

“The blood was pumping, the adrenaline was going, but I'm really proud of how I stuck with it today.”

Hillier had just one bogey in the final round – a three-putt leading to a four on the short par-4 10th.

The leading amateur was Christchurch’s Yuki Miya who finished on 10-under-par.

The Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia continues with the ISPS HANDA Japan-Australasia Championship, starting on Thursday at Royal Auckland & Grange Golf Club.

 

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Photo: PhotoSport NZ

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