Australian professional Tarquin MacManus and Tauranga amateur Karl Knedler qualified to compete in the New Zealand Open after winning the final qualifier in ideal conditions on the Cromwell golf course yesterday.
But gaining the two available berths was not straightforward and the pair were forced into a playoff with Otago amateur Nick Borren.
The trio were tied on 1-under-par 71 and now Borren, along with two North Island hopefuls, is eagerly awaiting possible withdrawals in order to get a start in the event.
On the playoff hole, MacManus was the only player to drive down the middle of the 10th fairway, as Borren and Knedler headed left into the rough.
MacManus played a copybook approach while Borren airmailed the green to an almost impossible position.
Knedler had a difficult lie and hit the ball fat but he had sufficient club and it ran up on to the putting surface.
Borren chipped and two-putted while his two opponents carded pars.
Along with 15-year-old Tom Parker (Russley), Borren held the lead at the turn at 2-under while Knedler and MacManus were handy one shot back.
There are always a plethora of birdies on the next six holes and Knedler and MacManus took the lead at 3-under with three holes to play.
Borren and Parker remained 2-under but Borren was the only player to par the final three holes.
Knedler bogeyed the 16th while Parker and MacManus bogeyed the 17th leading to the playoff.
For the second year, Otago No 1 Duncan Croudis missed by a single shot but he can only blame a slow start at 3-over after 10 holes.
He birdied 11, 12, 13 and 17 but could not quite make it into the playoff.
