Golf: Borren, Han, Hellier proceed to next stage

Nick Borren shows his style at Chisholm Park yesterday. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Nick Borren shows his style at Chisholm Park yesterday. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Nick Borren (Otago), Sungwoo Han (Queenstown) and Scott Hellier (Gore) have all qualified to compete in the next stage of qualifying for the New Zealand Open after heading a 14-strong field in windy conditions at Chisholm Park yesterday.

The trio will now go forward to compete for places in the actual field, which will be decided over 18 holes at Cromwell on Monday, March 9.

Borren played the first 12 holes in regulation but finished strongly with three birdies to post the leading score of 68.

He birdied 15 after almost pitching in and birdied the par-four 16th and 18th after driving on to both greens in the tail wind.

Han came in second place with par golf until the final hole, when he scrambled for a bogey five but still took second place with 72.

An increase in the field by four players entitled a third player to make the cut but with four players on 73, a playoff was required.

Hellier, Jeremy Hall (Greenacres) and Inia Logan (Cromwell) all made birdies on the first hole while Harry Smith (Maniototo) bowed out with a par four.

At 3 under par after the first six holes, Smith had led the field, but he dropped five shots in the next six holes, including a disastrous triple bogey seven on the par-four 12th.

On the second playoff hole, Logan made a bogey five after driving left into thick rough, leaving the two Southlanders to fight it out.

Hellier chipped close for a birdie three while Hall missed a 2m putt for a par.

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