Daniel Hillier celebrates his win at the New Zealand Open.
Photo: Chris Symes / www.photosport.nz
Kiwi golfer Daniel Hillier has won the NZ Open for the first time, finishing two shots clear of Australian Lucas Herbert.
The 27-year-old Wellingtonian handled gusty and cool conditions at Arrowtown’s Millbrook Resort, near Queenstown, to secure the title.
Hillier sets up for a putt at the Millbrook Resort.
Photo: www.photosport.nz
Hillier led by one shot heading into Sunday’s final round, finishing at 22-under par for the tournament.
He takes home prizemoney of NZ$360,000 and becomes the first New Zealander since Michael Hendry in 2017 to lift the silverware.
Hillier said winning the New Zealand Open capped an incredible week of celebration.
“Oh mate, that is the second-best day of my life, behind my wedding last week,” he told SkySport.
“It’s a lot more stressful coming down the stretch there, but this has just been the absolute best week of my life.
“To break the Kiwi drought is pretty special and to do it in front of my family, all my friends, my wife… I’ve been dreaming this for a long time and I knew I had the game to do it.
“It was a matter of not getting ahead of myself and I’m pretty proud.”
LIV golfer Herbert was second at 20-under. New Zealand’s Kerry Mountcastle finished in a tie for third, with Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura, on 17-under.