Source: Radio New Zealand
Daniel Hillier plays a shot during the third round of the 105th New Zealand Open. Photosport
A stunning late surge has vaulted Kiwi Daniel Hillier to the top of the NZ Open leaderboard at Millbrook Resort, near Queenstown.
The Wellingtonian was four strokes off leader and fellow Kiwi Kerry Mountcastle, when he lined up to play the 14th hole.
He birdied that, followed up with another birdie, parred the 16th, eagled the 17th and birdied the last to finish with a seven-under-par 64 to be 18-under with a round to play.
Hillier has been a force on the European tour this year and is the highest-ranked player in the field this week. He was runner-up at the NZ Open in 2024.
Masterton golfer Mountcastle also hit a 64 and is tied for second with Australian Curtis Luck, who hit 63. They are a stroke behind Hillier.
Another Aussie, Lucas Herbert, went around in 62 and sits fourth, a further stroke back.
Hillier had played steady golf before his late surge.
“That was a crazy last few holes,” he said. “I didn’t have my best early on.
“It was one of those days and I had to stay patient. I knew there were a couple of par-fives I could take advantage of later in the piece.
“Thankfully, I could do that and it was pretty cool to get one at the last as well, in front of that massive crowd.”
Hillier, who has had two top-five finishes on the DP World Tour already this year, is obviously keen to continue his good vein of form in the final round.
“Looking ahead to tomorrow, I would love a replay of that and some more,” he said. “Obviously, I have a job to do.
“I will rest up tonight and have a good sleep, and come out firing.”
Mountcastle could have had the outright lead had he birdied the final hole, but he dropped a stroke, after his tee shot landed in the water.
New Zealander Kerry Mountcastle is tied for second after three rounds. Photosport
The 30-year-old rated his round, which included nine birdies, as “nine out of 10”.
“Everything was kind of firing,” he said. “I’m sort of not really thinking about what’s happening in the tournament.
“It’s just I’m out here trying to hit shot after shot and it’s kind of the first time when I’ve been up the top, where I’ve been this comfortable.
“Normally I’m always thinking about, “Oh, I need to do this or what’s going on about that?”
The overnight leader after the second round, New Zealand amateur teenager Yuki Miya hit a 70 for a share of fifth place at 13-under.
One of the world’s top players on the PGA Championship tour, Kiwi Steven Alker has a share of ninth place at 12-under. He and compatriot Sam Jones both scored 66 in the third round.
“Today was moving day and I wanted to be a little more aggressive, but tomorrow, I am going to need to be really aggressive to catch the guys in front,” Alker said.
“I am having a blast with ‘Goldie’ [former All Black Jeff Wilson] on the bag, and it’s been a lot of fun and great to be back in New Zealand playing again. That is the coolest part.”
South Korea’s Chan Choi matched the championship course record with a 10-under-par 61. After making the cut on the number, he is now in a share of eighth at 12-under.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
