MURRAY WINS NZ MEN'S OPEN

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                              March 3, 2019 MURRAY COMES OF AGE BY WINNING THE 100TH NEW ZEALAND OPEN Zach Murray of Australia Photo credit: Photosport NZ Final results and earnings Queenstown, New Zealand, March 3: Australian rookie Zach Murray signaled his arrival on the biggest stage when he became the third fastest Qualifying School graduate to win on the Asian Tour after closing with a four-under-par 68 to become the newest champion of the New Zealand Open on Sunday. It was a wire-to-wire victory for the 21-year-old and his breakthrough was made even sweeter as it was his first professional win, achieved in what was only his third start on the Asian Tour at the NZ$1,250,000 (Approx. US$850,000) event. Murray saw his five-shot lead after the second round reduced to just one after the third round. But the Australian responded on the day that mattered most with a sublime performance that saw him lift the New Zealand Open trophy by two shots over closest challengers Josh Geary of New Zealand and compatriot Ashley Hall at The Hills. Murray birdied the second before reeling off seven successive pars to turn in 35. He added another birdie on the 10 but would give it back on the next following a bogey. The young talent however soared with an eagle-birdie-birdie run from 13 to pull clear of Geary and Hall. Murray, who held a three-shot lead coming down the 72nd hole, had to hit his third shot from behind the television tower but a two-putt bogey for a 21-under-par 266 total was good enough to ensure his triumph at the storied event, that is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia. Merit leader Jazz Janewattananond enjoyed another solid result on the Asian Tour by signing off with a bogey-free 66 to finish three shots back in fourth place. The Thai has never finished outside the top-10 since he lifted his third Asian Tour title at the season-opening event in Singapore in January. A total of 152 professionals and 152 amateurs took part in the event where the first two rounds were alternated between the par-71 course at Millbrook Resort and the par-72 course at The Hills. The 62 players, who made the halfway cut on Friday, competed in the final two rounds at The Hills. Did you know? Zach Murray of Australia is the third fastest rookie to win on the Asian Tour after Kane Webber (2006 Macao Open) and Todd Sinnott (2017 Leopalace Myanmar Open), who both won on their second starts on Tour. Murray will take home a winner’s cheque of AUD$211,724 (approx. US$149,964) and receive a total of 15 Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points courtesy of his victory. Murray secured his 2019 Asian Tour card at the Qualifying School last December after finishing fourth in the 90-hole event. Murray led from start to finish when he won the Nexus Risk TSA Group WA Open (an event on the PGA Tour of Australasia) as an amateur golfer in October 2018. One month later, he made his professional debut at the Australian Open. Murray was ranked as high as 19th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Murray marked his lowest round yet as a professional with his opening 63 at Millbrook Resort. He was in a three-way tie for lead after 18 holes but a second round 65 at The Hills saw him move five shots clear of the field in what is his debut appearance in the long-running event. He would follow up with a third-round 70 to retain a one-shot lead heading into the final round. Murray is playing in only his third start on the Asian Tour this season. Murray hails from Victoria, Australia. He is in Queenstown this week for the first time. Ashley Hall is a three-time winner on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia in 2007, 2009 and 2016. The 35-year-old Hall played on the Asian Tour in 2007 and 2008. He also played on the Web.com Tour from 2013 to 2015, where he came in runner-up twice. In 2018, he regained his Asian Tour card at the Qualifying School but played only two events that season. After firing five straight birdies in his closing six holes in the third round, Hall continued his hot bogey-free streak before dropping a shot on his 72nd hole. Josh Geary, 34, is a one-time winner on the Canadian Tour. He won the Saskatchewan Open at Dakota Dunes Resort and Casino in Saskatoon in 2008. Prior to turning professional in 2007, Geary enjoyed an illustrious amateur career where he represented New Zealand in the bi-annual World Amateur team event - Eisenhower Trophy in 2004 and 2006. Geary has recorded five professional victories, including three in 2015. Jazz Janewattananond closed with a stunning bogey-free 64, highlighted by four birdies and two eagles on 13 and 17. He had dropped only one shot in his last 36 holes at The Hills. He made a total of three eagles this week, including an eagle-three on the first hole at The Hills in the opening round. Jazz leads the latest Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings and is playing in his first New Zealand Open this week. Jazz broke into the world’s top-100 for the first time in his career after claiming his third Asian Tour title at the season-opening SMBC Singapore Open last month. That victory also earned him a coveted spot in The Open, where he made his Major debut last year. Players’ quotes: Zach Murray (Aus) – Final round 68 (-4), Total 266 (-21) Starting my career like this is so huge and to win the 100th New Zealand Open - I don’t really think words can describe that. I’ve etched my name in history a little bit, which is really good and I’ll come back and support this tournament as long as I’m a professional. Growing up in the country, being loyal to the people when you first started, I’m looking forward to playing this tournament for the rest of my life. I was speaking to (Sir Bob) just before and I’d never met him before, he’s an amazing man and I reckon if I could have a 10th of the career that he had I’ll die a happy man, I reckon. I just holed some nice putts and that has been the key for me all week. This win will get me into the upcoming Maybank Championship in Malaysia. I can’t wait for that. It’s going to be fantastic. I was trying to get an invite there but now I don’t have to. I am super happy to be able to head out there and I look forward to playing full time in Asia. This victory means a lot to me. Any professionals who just started out would want to play. I am loving the game at the moment and I just want to keep playing well and capitalize on this win. I really like Asia. It’s pretty close to home, just one flight away. Not jet-lags, it’s nice. My family and friends can come out and support if I do well. I have friends who played in Asia before telling me that the people are nice and supportive in Asia so I am looking forward to it. Ashley Hall (Aus)– Final round 65 (-7), Total 268 (-19) I wanted to get off to a quick start and I did, I found some magic with the putter. I almost felt like I couldn’t miss for a little while. I’m a bit disappointed with the finish, just a bit jittery. I haven’t played much lately and haven’t been in the hunt for a while. Josh Geary (Nzl) – Final round 68 (-3), Total 268 (-19) When I hit it close on 13 and got the eagle I thought ‘maybe’, but he responded really well. We lost the tee shot left on 15 but got a drop and made birdie and started to feel it could happen. It was not really gone because 16, 17 and 18 are holes that can trip you up. It is my first event for three months and it came with a lot of changes to the swing over the last six months. Overall, I am really happy with the week. It was a shame I lost a bit of momentum today. I hit a good shot into 5 which hit the flag and missed the green and that started a five hole stretch of some weird stuff. I bounced back from that but it was too little too late. Jazz Janewattananond (Tha) – Final round 64 (-8), Total 269 (-18) My caddy Jacob was just telling me that the two eagles on the back nine reminded him of my back nine at the Indonesian Masters last year. I had two eagles to finish second there. I am pleased with the way I played. I started off really good today but kind of struggled during the middle of the round. But got it back after that. I got it back earlier than I did yesterday though so that helps. I wasn’t thinking much out there to be honest. I saw the leaderboard and thought I am too far away from the lead. I just try my best to play well, hoping to boost my world rankings with a good result. I have been playing well since I started working with my new coach Pete Cowen. This week’s a good build-up for Maybank Championship as well so I am looking forward to that. I think I will need another good result there to have a chance to qualify for the Majors and World Golf Championships. The week’s been lovely. I am going to do some sight seeing before going home tomorrow. Maybe do some activities but no bungee jump for sure! I’m taking the next week off. I haven’t been home for a few weeks so I hope to get some good rest and spend time with my family back home. It’s still early in the season. I wasn’t thinking about it earlier but now, I think I might have a chance. It all depends on how I do at the Maybank Championship later this month. If I finish well there, I should be in a better position to chase for the Order of Merit title. Scores after round 4 of the 100th New Zealand Open being played at the par 72, 6524 Metres The Hills course (am - denotes amateur): 266 - Zach Murray (AUS) 63-65-70-68. 268 - Ashley Hall (AUS) 67-69-67-65, Josh Geary (NZL) 67-69-63-69. 269 - Jazz Janewattananond (THA) 69-70-66-64. 270 - Brad Kennedy (AUS) 71-63-69-67, Rikuya Hoshino (JPN) 71-68-63-68, Ryuko Tokimatsu (JPN) 64-69-68-69. 271 - Steven Alker (NZL) 68-69-69-65, Kodai Ichihara (JPN) 66-68-67-70, Harry Bateman (NZL) 64-70-67-70. 272 - Won Joon Lee (AUS) 70-70-66-66, Ryan Fox (NZL) 68-66-71-67. 274 - Andrew Dodt (AUS) 72-67-68-67, Paul Peterson (USA) 69-68-68-69, Travis Smyth (AUS) 67-71-67-69, Matthew Griffin (AUS) 71-69-64-70. 275 - Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 73-65-71-66, Harrison Endycott (AUS) 69-70-68-68, Adilson da Silva (BRA) 68-69-69-69, K.J. Choi (KOR) 69-70-67-69, Adam Bland (AUS) 68-72-66-69, Aaron Pike (AUS) 71-66-65-73