Jeremy Hall (Greenacres), Brandon Hodgson and Michael Smith (both Otago) led the way in the New Zealand Open pre-qualifying tournament over 18 holes in fine conditions at Chisholm Park yesterday.
Hall finished 4-under-par on 67 while Hodgson and Smith finished tied on 69, one shot ahead of Brent McEwan (St Clair) and Nick Borren (Otago).
The leading trio now go forward to the final qualifying event on the Cromwell course on February 25.
Initially, only two were to go forward from yesterday's event but an increase to three avoided a sudden-death playoff between Hodgson and Smith.
Hall was solid throughout his round, turning 1-under after birdieing the third and fifth holes.
He started the homeward run in style with two birdies and went 4-under with a birdie three on the 13nth.
A birdie four on the 15th put him 5-under but a rare blemish with a bogey five on the final hole put him back to 67.
Hodgson looked set to miss out, going through the12th hole 3-over, but a late-round charge allowed him to birdie 13, 14 and 18. With the aid of an eagle three on the 15th, he played the final six holes 5-under to make the cut.
Smith also came back from oblivion after playing the first 10 holes 3-over-par.
His purple patch started with an eagle three on the 11th followed by birdies on the next three holes.
Smith parred in for a 4-under homeward nine to qualify for the next stage.
Fresh from winning the Otago strokeplay title at Balmacewen in the weekend, McEwan looked set to qualify at 2-under after 12 holes.
But he failed to make a birdie on the last six holes and a bogey five on the penultimate hole cost him dearly.
Borren was in the mix until the final hole but, after a wayward drive, he took two more shots to get on the green, and made a costly bogey 5.
NZ Open pre-qualifying scores
67 Jeremy Hall (Greenacres).
69 Brandon Hodgson (Otago), Michael Smith (Otago).
70 Nick Borren (Otago), Brent McEwan (St Clair).
71 Hamish Ireland (Otago).
72 Antony McCullough (Chisholm Park).
74 Conor Jamison (Chisholm Park),, Ben Matheson (professional).
75 Jamie Anstiss (Otago), Michael Minty (St Clair), Inia Logan (Cromwell),, Graeme Barbara (Wanaka).
76 Lee Campion (Gore).
77 Ricky Barbara (professional).
78 Luke Murdoch (Otago), Michael Weastell (professional).
79 Daniel Elder (Otago).
