Ben Campbell was the top New Zealander after the first round of the 103rd NZ Open. Australian golfers Matthew Griffin and Scott Hend led the tournament, both scoring seven-under par 64 at the Millbrook Resort in Queenstown on Thursday.
Campbell, based in Queenstown, was only one stroke behind the leaders, thanks to an excellent eagle on his last hole. His score of 65 was matched by seven other players, taking advantage of the excellent weather and the resort’s courses.
New Zealander Kieran Muir was among six players who scored 66, just two strokes behind the leaders. Griffin, who won the Heritage Classic on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia in January, had eight birdies and one bogey in his round. He was in the lead until Hend scored a 64, making five birdies in eight holes.
Griffin, now 40 and a father of two, has recently reduced his commitment to the Japan Golf Tour to spend more time at home. He won the New Zealand Open in 2016 and is hoping for a second win.
Hend, a 10-time winner on the Asian Tour, arrived from last week’s Asian Tour event in Oman. Despite being 50, he is still competing with younger players.
Campbell, last year’s Hong Kong Open Champion, scored a round of 6-under 65 on the Coronet Course. He is leading a group of six New Zealanders who are within three strokes of the lead.
Other international contenders include JungHyun Um from the Korean PGA Tour and Spain’s Carlos Pigem, who is now playing the Asian Tour. In total, 37 players were within three strokes of the lead at the end of the first round.
The second round of the New Zealand Open will start at 7:40am on Friday, with the top 60 professionals continuing to the final rounds over the weekend.
