Those players who do the ultimate on the course at the New Zealand Open this week may well get more than a buzz of adrenaline — their back pocket will also get a real boost.
It was announced last week the seventh hole at The Hills on Thursday and Friday — the opening two rounds of the tourn-ament – will have a $1million prize if anyone bags a hole in one.
Of the prize of $1million, $750,000 will go to the player and $250,000 will go to Starship Hospital in Auckland.
Also on the 13th hole at Millbrook, if anyone gets a hole in one, a Hyundai electric vehicle, valued at nearly $80,000, will go to one of three charities.
The final two rounds of the professional tournament will be played at Millbrook on Saturday and Sunday.
The final hole at Millbrook is a par-3 which has a green sitting beside a pond.
If anyone hits an ace on this hole on Saturday or Sunday, Sky Sport will hand over $250,000.
Half of that will go to the player while the other $125,000 will be split among five charities.
The charities are Habitat for Humanity, St John Queenstown, the New Zealand Golf Foundation, Queenstown’s Bruce Grant Youth Trust and animal rescue charity Huha.
Meanwhile two promising youngsters and a Wellington course superintendent have made it to the NZ Open after a final qualifying round in Cromwell on Monday.
Aucklander Jimmy Zheng and Christchurch’s Matt McLean both finished at 6-under at Cromwell while Wellington course superintendent Adam Church recorded 4-under.
Otago youngster Callum Judkins finished in a group of a half dozen, one shot back from Church.
There were 53 golfers in the field.
