Brendon Jones celebrates winning the NZ Open. Photo / Photosport
Brendon Jones celebrates winning the NZ Open. Photo / Photosport
Australian veteran Brendan Jones has finally prevailed as a New Zealand Open champion.
The 48-year-old Jones, a local favourite and regular at the Open, shot a clinical five-under 66 in his final round to claim the Brodie Breeze trophy and the $297,000 cash prize at Millbrook in Queenstown.
Jones, aseasoned pro with 15 wins on the Japan Tour, managed to separate himself from the field on the final day, putting down a run of late birdies to take the title by three shots at 18-under.
An emotional Jones said he didn’t think the New Zealand victory would ever come after playing at the Open for so many years.
“This is just incredible,” he said. “I’ve been supporting this event for many, many years and I’ve said to myself as long as my bum points to the ground, I’ll never win it.
“I don’t know what’s happened, but I’ve won it and I played some pretty awesome golf — for an old guy anyway.
“It’s a dream come true.”
After leading the way throughout the week, Australian duo Shae Wools-Cobb and Christopher Wood struggled in their final rounds, both shooting over par and creating an early logjam of players fighting for positions as the day went on.
Several Kiwis threatened the leaderboard, including Ben Campbell, Daniel Hillier, 2017 champion Michael Hendry and New Zealand’s best after three days, amateur Kazuma Kobori.
But it was Jones who stepped up and played some of the best golf of his career on the weekend after barely making the cut, including a stunning nine-under 62 on day three, to finally put his name on the trophy.
“I don’t know what to think because while you’re out there, you’re not thinking of winning, you’re just thinking of playing the best golf you can,” he said.
“I got a bit of help from the leaders. I noticed it wasn’t playing as easy today and I just hit a lot of good shots through the middle of the round. I left a couple out there, but I made some clutch par saves on a few of the holes coming in.
“And then I’ve hit probably two of the greatest shots I’ve ever hit back-to-back on the par five [15th] and the par three [16th].”
Brendan Jones celebrates winning the New Zealand Open. Photo / Photosport
Jones said winning in his favourite event “means everything”.
“I love this event more than anything. I don’t play the Australian Open. I haven’t played for years because it clashes with the big ones in Japan where I’m playing. I don’t get the opportunity to play in many events and this is one that I pencil in at the start of every year.
“I’ve been over here when I was injured, I didn’t even play, but I came over for the event and I just love being here.
“I’ve got so many friends here in New Zealand that have supported me over the years when I haven’t been in contention and I had a lot of those that supported me out on the golf course today.
“I may be an Australian, but I do have a bit of love out here.”
Queenstown local Campbell, who finished in a four-way tie for second at 15-under, came the closest for the Kiwis, but would rue a costly double bogey.
“It’s very exciting,” Campbell said after briefly holding the clubhouse lead. “It was probably the first nine holes where I was actually holing a few putts, which was good. Nice to do it on the Sunday on the back nine. Good to put myself in contention there.
“A little bit frustrating with the double ... I pushed maybe a little bit too hard but it is how it goes.”
It was ultimately a story of missed opportunities for the Kiwi contingent, with many not quite putting it together for four consistent rounds.
Hendry and playing partner Kobori couldn’t replicate their earlier form in the tournament and finished in a five-way tie for sixth. 51-year-old Steven Alker, returning home after incredible success on the Champions Tour last year, ended in a tie for 30th at nine-under.
