The wait for another Kiwi winner of the New Zealand Golf Open might soon be over after some hometown heroics at Millbrook Resort.
Kiwis Kazuma Kobori and Steven Alker are right in contention after firing opening rounds of 67 and 68, respectively.
It was a difficult day for the pro-amfield that saw their tee times delayed by three hours due to heavy rain. By the time play got underway, it was clear that groups with a later tee time would have some catch-up holes to play on day two.
Among them is the top-ranked player in the field, Dan Hillier. The New Zealander was 1-under early on in his opening round.
Kiwi Daniel Hillier during the first round of the 105th NZ Open, at Millbrook. Photo / Chris Symes / Photosport
Millbrook local Ben Campbell finished a tidy opening round at 1-under, matched by 2017 champion – and the last Kiwi to hold the Brodie Breeze trophy – Michael Hendry.
The overnight clubhouse lead belongs to experienced American Kevin Na and Australian Wade Ormsby, who both carded a round of 66. The 42-year-old Na says he hasn’t played tournament golf in at least three months. He admits conditions were tough.
“It was difficult out there. When I saw the weather forecast, I was like, ‘Oh no, I got the bad draw.’ It was like a three-club wind with the rain at times, and I know the wind’s died down, the rain’s gone away, it’s going to play a lot easier in the afternoon, but I did the best I could in the morning,” said Na.
After a three-hour delay, the first tee shot of the 2026 NZ Golf Open at Millbrook Resort. Photo / Mike Thorpe
When Kobori stepped up to the tee on the par-3 fourth hole on the Remarkables course, he was unaware that his playing partner, Alker, had scored a hole-in-one there in practice on Tuesday.
Kobori went one better with an ace that counted on the scorecard – taking him from 2-under to 4-under and a share of the lead.
“Only heard about that afterwards. You don’t really expect to hole it on that hole. Especially with a four iron in hand in these conditions. We celebrated a little bit,” said Kobori.
The DP Tour pro described conditions as “real gnarly” but found the wind harder to contend with than the rain.
Kobori held a share of the lead when he teed up on his final hole of the day, but slipped back after finding the water on the par-3 ninth hole.
He says he enjoyed playing alongside Alker.
“Stevie played really nicely. It was nice to play with him because, you know, he plays the game in a similar way that I do. It was good to play with him and then kind of bounce off of each other.”
Kobori and the Kiwi contingent weren’t the only local heroes in action on day one.
Greens staff work hard to clear water from the practice green at Millbrook Resort after a morning of torrential rain. Photo / Mike Thorpe
The green staff at Millbrook worked their squeegees to a nub moving water off the putting surfaces. The rain was heavy before play was scheduled to start at 7.40am, and at times during the three-hour delay it got heavier. The fact that the delay was only three hours was due to the huge amount of work the green staff got through.
Bob Grant also displayed heroic deeds at the intersection of the 8th green and 9th tee. Grant was unperturbed by the conditions, displaying incredible optimism by spectating in shorts and jandals. It was wet, windy and brutally cold.
Bob Grant was unconcerned by the wet, windy and freezing conditions that greeted players and spectators on the opening day at Millbrook Resort near Queenstown. Photo / Mike Thorpe
It didn’t. But it’s forecast to improve throughout the week.
Mike Thorpe is a senior multimedia journalist for the Herald, based in Christchurch. He has been a broadcast journalist across television and radio for 20 years and joined the Herald in August 2024.
