Daniel Nisbet (27) won the New Zealand Open yesterday, putting together a stunning 9-under-par 62 at Millbrook, to win by two shots from overnight leader countryman Terry Pilkadaris.
He finished on 27-under, beating the previous record set for the best score to win the New Zealand Open, held by fellow Australian Kel Nagle, who set it at Christchurch in 1964.
It was the biggest win of Nisbet’s career and one which took some tremendous golf and courage in a once-again benign Millbrook course yesterday.
Six shots behind at the start of the day, Nisbet was targeting the leader right from the first tee.
"The plan was to be aggressive, like I had been for the previous three days. I had got off to a rough start yesterday so I wanted to get out of the gates a bit better," Nisbet said.
"The main goal was to get off to a good start, play aggressive and I’d be in the hunt."
An eagle at the 10th hole put him two shots behind Pilkadaris and he kept chipping away.
His length allowed him to pick up shots at the 16th and 17th and once he parred the last hole, the title was his.
"It is just a great feeling — hard to put into words. I took two months off at the end of last season and the start of this season ... we had the best possible off-season. We spent some time re-evaluating. Thinking about where we needed to be."
The Brisbane resident hurt his elbow at the end of last season and needed the time off, which had some benefits.
He had won a tournament in Hong Kong in 2016 but this was the biggest victory of his career. He won $NZ207,000 for his efforts and also gets invitations for events on the Asian and Japan Tours.
It was heartbreak for overnight leader Pilkadaris, who was chased down by Nisbet.
Pilkadaris was five shots clear of the field at the start of the day but while Nisbet got on a tear, Pilkadaris’ putter went cold.
Pilkadaris (44) said it was a tough loss to take but he had to congratulate Nisbet, who had to shoot 62 to win.
It was the seventh time in his career Pilkadaris had finished runner-up. He had won three tournaments, the last victory 13 years ago in Brunei.
"They all sting. I’ve had a bunch of them before ... but I didn’t hand it to him. Hats off to him — it was a fantastic effort," Pilkadaris said.
"With a five-shot lead in good weather conditions, you know someone is going to go low. I thought I plodded my way round the course, gave myself the chances but I just did not hole the putts.
"When you walk out there on the course with a five-shot lead, you’ve got a bullseye on your back."
American Jarin Todd was third on 22-under.
