New Zealand Open

New Zealand Open

Tournament information
Location	Arrowtown, New Zealand
Established	1907
Course(s)	Millbrook Resort
Par	71
Length	6,958 yards (6,362 m)
Tour(s)	European Tour Asian Tour PGA Tour of Australasia Nationwide Tour New Zealand Golf Circuit
Format	Stroke play
Prize fund	NZ$2,000,000
Month played	March
Tournament record score
Aggregate	258 Daniel Nisbet (2018)
To par	−27 as above
Current champion
Ryan Peake
Location map
Millbrook Resort Location in New Zealand

The New Zealand Open is the premier men’s golf tournament in New Zealand. It has been a regular fixture on the PGA Tour of Australasia tournament schedule since the 1970s. The 2019 event was the 100th edition of the tournament. Since 2014 it has been held as a pro-am in February or March.

Prize money for the 2020 event was NZ$1.4 million, with an additional NZ$50,000 for the pro-am; the tournament winner received NZ$252,000.

The reigning champion is Ryan Peake, who won the 2025 event.

The New Zealand Amateur Championship had been played since 1893 and at the 1906 championship meeting in Christchurch it was decided to hold a 36-hole Open Championship at the championship meeting in 1907, “open to any professional or amateur in any part of the world” with prizes of £25 and £10 for the leading professionals. The 1907 championship meeting was held at Napier Golf Club. The first round of the Open was played on the morning of 10 September, the amateurs also competing in a club team event. The professional David Hood and amateur J. Carne Bidwell led with rounds of 80. A handicap event was held on the following day and the second round of the Open was played on the morning of 12 September. The amateur Arthur Duncan had a second round of 76 to win with a score of 159, seven ahead of J. Carne Bidwell. The Scottish professional, Jack McLaren, finished third on 167 with David Hood fourth on 168. McLaren and Hood took the cash prizes of £25 and £10.

In 1908 the tournament was extended to 72 holes, and was won by Joe Clements, the first notable New Zealand-born professional golfer. There were no Opens from 1915 to 1918 due to World War I and the championship was again cancelled from 1940 to 1945 due to World War II.

In early 1923, G. Brodie Breeze, a golf club maker in Glasgow offered a trophy for the event, an offer that was accepted by the New Zealand Golf Association. The trophy was first presented to the 1923 winner, Arthur Brooks, and is held “from year to year” by the winner of the Open. The Jellicoe Cup was presented by Viscount Jellicoe, the second Governor-General of New Zealand, in 1924 and is awarded for the lowest round in the championship. The Bledisloe Cup was presented by Lord Bledisloe, the fourth Governor-General, in 1934 and is awarded to the leading amateur.

The 1937 event was thought to be won by Alex Murray. However, shortly after the tournament ended it was discovered that Murray hit a putt while his playing partner was also putting. Though unintentional, this was a rule violation. Murray was therefore disqualified. John Hornabrook, the reigning New Zealand Amateur champion, Andrew Shaw, the defending New Zealand Open champion, and Ernie Moss played off for title the following day. Hornabrook won the 18-hole playoff.

In 1954 Bob Charles, who was later to become the only New Zealander to win a major championship in the 20th century, won as an 18-year-old amateur. He won again in 1966, 1971 and 1973, as a professional, and he and the two Australian major champions Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle dominated the event from the early 1950s to the mid-1970s. Thomson won the event nine times while Nagle won it seven times.

In 1966 Australian professionals were banned from playing in the tournament by the Australian PGA. The intention of the Australian PGA was to protect the North Coast Open tournament at Coffs Harbour, Australia and ensure that all of the best Australian players entered that event. Despite the ban, Kel Nagle and Len Thomas played in the event.

Other well known winners have included the American Corey Pavin in 1984 and 1985, and Michael Campbell in 2000. Campbell joined Charles as a major champion when he won the 2005 U.S. Open.

In 2002, Tiger Woods took part as a thank you to his New Zealand caddie Steve Williams, but he did not win. His participation caused some controversy when ticket prices were raised sharply that year.

The New Zealand Open is a PGA Tour of Australasia tournament, and in 2005 was co-sanctioned for the first time by the European Tour, which led to a doubling of the prize fund to 1.5 million New Zealand Dollars. The European Tour had co-sanctioned PGA Tour of Australasia events before, but they had all been in Australia, making this the tour’s first ever visit to New Zealand. In 2006 the event was moved to November, taking its place on the European Tour schedule for the following calendar year. The 2007 event was the last to be co-sanctioned by the European Tour, and with the tournament being rescheduled to March, there was also no New Zealand Open on the 2008 Australasian Tour. The 2009 and 2010 tournaments were also co-sanctioned by the Nationwide Tour, the official development tour of the PGA Tour. From 2011 to 2017 it was solely sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia while since 2018 it has been co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour. Since 2014 it has also been run in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour, an arrangement whereby a number of golfers from that tour compete in the event, although it is not an official event on the Japanese tour.

Since 2014 the Championship has been a pro-am event. A professional field of 156 play with an amateur partner for the first two rounds, alternately at The Hills and Millbrook Resort before the second round cut of 60 and ties. From 2014 to 2016 and in 2019 the final two rounds of the championship were played at The Hills. In 2017, 2018 and 2020 they were played at Millbrook Resort. The New Zealand Pro-Am Championship runs alongside the main tournament in a best-ball format. After a second round cut, the top 40 pro-am pairs progress to the third round, with a further cut to the top 10 pairs who play in the final round.

The New Zealand Open was cancelled in 2021 and 2022 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Venue	Location	First	Last	Times
Napier Golf Club	Waiohiki, Napier	1907	1919	2
Otago Golf Club	Maori Hill, Dunedin	1908	1971	7
Royal Auckland Golf Club	Middlemore, Auckland	1909	2003	9
Christchurch Golf Club	Shirley, Christchurch	1910	1982	11
Wanganui Golf Club	Belmont links, Wanganui	1911	1978	8
Royal Wellington Golf Club	Heretaunga, Wellington	1912	1995	7
Hamilton Golf Club	St Andrews, Hamilton	1920	1975	6
Manawatu Golf Club	Hokowhitu, Palmerston North	1922	1973	5
Miramar Golf Club	Miramar, Wellington	1926	1939	2
Titirangi Golf Club	Titirangi, Auckland	1933	1962	3
New Plymouth Golf Club	Fitzroy, New Plymouth	1936	1980	4
Hastings Golf Club	Maraekakaho, Hastings	1949	1949	1
Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club	Paraparaumu Beach, Paraparaumu	1959	2002	12
Invercargill Golf Club	Otatara, Invercargill	1960	1960	1
The Grange Golf Club	Papatoetoe, Auckland	1970	2004	5
St Clair Golf Club	St Clair, Dunedin	1979	1979	1
Russley Golf Club	Burnside, Christchurch	1985	1985	1
Remuera Golf Club	Remuera, Auckland	1994	1994	1
Formosa Golf Club	Beachlands, Auckland	1998	1998	1
Gulf Harbour Country Club	Gulf Harbour, Whangaparaoa	2005	2006	2
The Hills Golf Club	Arrowtown, near Queenstown	2007	2020	7 (+3)
Clearwater Golf Club	Belfast, Christchurch	2011	2012	2
Millbrook Resort	Arrowtown, near Queenstown	2014	2025	6 (+4)

Since 2014 the first two rounds have been played on two different courses, everyone playing one round on each course. After the cut, one of the courses is then used for the final two rounds. The number in brackets refers to the occasions where the course was just used for the first two rounds.

Year	Tour(s)	Winner	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Venue(s)	Ref.
New Zealand Open
2025	ANZ, ASA	Ryan Peake	261	−23	1 stroke	Kazuki Higa Ian Snyman Jack Thompson	Millbrook
2024	ANZ, ASA	Takahiro Hataji	267	−17	1 stroke	Scott Hend	Millbrook
2023	ANZ, ASA	Brendan Jones	266	−18	3 strokes	Ben Campbell Eom Jae-woong Tomoyo Ikemura John Lyras	Millbrook
2022	ANZ, ASA	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021
2020	ANZ, ASA	Brad Kennedy (2)	264	−21	2 strokes	Lucas Herbert	Millbrook The Hills
2019	ANZ, ASA	Zach Murray	266	−21	2 strokes	Josh Geary Ashley Hall	The Hills Millbrook
ISPS Handa New Zealand Open
2018	ANZ, ASA	Daniel Nisbet	258	−27	2 strokes	Terry Pilkadaris	Millbrook The Hills
2017	ANZ	Michael Hendry	266	−19	Playoff	Ben Campbell Brad Kennedy	Millbrook The Hills
BMW ISPS Handa New Zealand Open
2016	ANZ	Matthew Griffin	267	−20	1 stroke	Hideto Tanihara	The Hills Millbrook
BMW New Zealand Open
2015	ANZ	Jordan Zunic	266	−21	1 stroke	David Bransdon	The Hills Millbrook
New Zealand Open
2014	ANZ	Dimitrios Papadatos	270	−18	4 strokes	Mark Brown	The Hills Millbrook
BMW New Zealand Open
2013: No tournament
2012	ANZ	Jake Higginbottom (a)	281	−7	1 stroke	Jason Norris Peter Wilson	Clearwater
2011	ANZ	Brad Kennedy	281	−7	Playoff	Craig Parry	Clearwater
Michael Hill New Zealand Open
2010	ANZ, NWT	Bobby Gates	274	−14	1 stroke	Andrew Dodt	The Hills
2009	ANZ, NWT	Alex Prugh	269	−19	3 strokes	Martin Piller	The Hills
2008: No tournament
2007	ANZ, EUR	Richard Finch	274	−14	3 strokes	Steven Bowditch Paul Sheehan	The Hills
Blue Chip New Zealand Open
2006	ANZ, EUR	Nathan Green	279	−5	2 strokes	Michael Campbell Nick Dougherty Marcus Fraser Jarrod Moseley Wade Ormsby Brett Rumford	Gulf Harbour
Holden New Zealand Open
2005	ANZ, EUR	Niclas Fasth	266	−22	Playoff	Miles Tunnicliff	Gulf Harbour
2004	ANZ	Terry Price	271	−9	1 stroke	Brad Heaven (a)	The Grange
2003	ANZ	Mahal Pearce	278	−10	2 strokes	Brett Rumford	Auckland
TelstraSaturn Hyundai New Zealand Open
2002	ANZ	Craig Parry	273	−11	1 stroke	Steven Alker Michael Campbell Stephen Leaney	Paraparaumu Beach
New Zealand Open
2001	ANZ	David Smail	273	−7	2 strokes	Steven Alker Michael Campbell Roger Chapman Nathan Gatehouse	The Grange
Crown Lager New Zealand Open
2000	ANZ	Michael Campbell	269	−15	Playoff	Craig Perks	Paraparaumu Beach
New Zealand Open
1999: No tournament
1998	ANZ	Matthew Lane	279	−9	3 strokes	Rod Pampling	Formosa
AMP Air New Zealand Open
1997	ANZ	Greg Turner (2)	278	−10	7 strokes	Andrew Coltart Jean-Louis Guépy Lucas Parsons	Auckland
1996	ANZ	Michael Long	275	−9	4 strokes	Peter O’Malley	Paraparaumu Beach
1995 (Dec)	ANZ	Peter O’Malley	272	−8	3 strokes	Scott Hoch	The Grange
1995 (Jan)	ANZ	Lucas Parsons	282	−6	1 stroke	Mike Clayton	Wellington
AMP New Zealand Open
1994	ANZ	Craig Jones	277	−7	1 stroke	Frank Nobilo	Remuera
1993	ANZ	Peter Fowler	274	−10	2 strokes	Elliot Boult	Paraparaumu Beach
1992	ANZ	Grant Waite	268	−16	2 strokes	Peter Fowler Grant Kenny	Paraparaumu Beach
1991	ANZ	Rodger Davis (2)	273	−11	2 strokes	Frank Nobilo	Paraparaumu Beach
1990: No tournament
1989	ANZ	Greg Turner	277	−7	6 strokes	Richard Gilkey	Paraparaumu Beach
Nissan-Mobil New Zealand Open
1988	ANZ	Ian Stanley	273	−11	3 strokes	Mike Clayton	Paraparaumu Beach
1987	ANZ	Ronan Rafferty	279	−9	Playoff	Larry Nelson	Wellington
1986	ANZ	Rodger Davis	262	−18	8 strokes	Bob Shearer	The Grange
New Zealand Open
1985	ANZ	Corey Pavin (2)	277	−15	4 strokes	Jeff Senior	Russley
1984	ANZ	Corey Pavin	269	−19	4 strokes	Terry Gale	Paraparaumu Beach
1983	ANZ	Ian Baker-Finch	280	E	3 strokes	Stuart Reese	Auckland
New Zealand BP Open
1982	ANZ	Terry Gale	284	−4	2 strokes	Bob Charles	Christchurch
1981	ANZ	Bob Shearer (2)	285	−3	3 strokes	Terry Gale	Wellington
New Zealand Open
1980	ANZ	Buddy Allin	274	−14	1 stroke	Eamonn Darcy	New Plymouth
1979	NZGC	Stewart Ginn	278	−6	3 strokes	Simon Owen	St Clair
1978	NZGC	Bob Shearer	277	−3	1 stroke	Brian Barnes	Wanganui
1977	NZGC	Bob Byman	290	+6	1 stroke	Terry Gale	Auckland
1976	NZGC	Simon Owen	284	−8	7 strokes	Doug McClelland	Wellington
1975	NZGC	Bill Dunk (2)	272	−16	4 strokes	Bill Brask Bruce Fleisher	Hamilton
1974	NZGC	Bob Gilder	283	−5	Playoff	Bob Charles Jack Newton	Christchurch
1973	NZGC	Bob Charles (4)	283	−5	4 strokes	Ian Stanley	Manawatu
1972	NZGC	Bill Dunk	279	−5	1 stroke	Maurice Bembridge	Paraparaumu Beach
1971	NZGC	Peter Thomson (9)	276	−8	2 strokes	Maurice Bembridge	Otago
1970	NZGC	Bob Charles (3)	271	−13	1 stroke	Graham Marsh	The Grange
1969	NZGC	Kel Nagle (7)	273	−7	2 strokes	John Lister	Wanganui
1968	NZGC	Kel Nagle (6)	272	−8	7 strokes	Frank Phillips	Christchurch
1967	NZGC	Kel Nagle (5)	275	−9	4 strokes	Ted Ball	Hamilton
1966	NZGC	Bob Charles (2)	273	−19	13 strokes	Guy Wolstenholme	Paraparaumu Beach
1965	NZGC	Peter Thomson (8)	278	−2	8 strokes	Bob Charles Kel Nagle	Auckland
1964	NZGC	Kel Nagle (4)	266	−26	12 strokes	Frank Phillips	Christchurch
1963	NZGC	Bruce Devlin	273	−11	1 stroke	Peter Thomson	Wanganui
1962		Kel Nagle (3)	281		2 strokes	Walter Godfrey (a)	Titirangi
1961		Peter Thomson (7)	267		9 strokes	Kel Nagle	New Plymouth
1960		Peter Thomson (6)	281	−3	1 stroke	Kel Nagle	Invercargill
1959		Peter Thomson (5)	287	−5	Playoff	Kel Nagle	Paraparaumu Beach
1958		Kel Nagle (2)	278		2 strokes	Peter Thomson	Hamilton
1957		Kel Nagle	294		4 strokes	Peter Thomson	Manawatu
1956		Harry Berwick (a)	292		2 strokes	Bob Charles (a)	Christchurch
1955		Peter Thomson (4)	280	−8	10 strokes	Kel Nagle	Auckland
1954		Bob Charles (a)	280		2 strokes	Bruce Crampton	Wellington
1953		Peter Thomson (3)	295	+7	5 strokes	Frank Buckler	Otago
1952		Alex Murray (3)	293		1 stroke	Harry Berwick (a)	Wanganui
1951		Peter Thomson (2)	288		4 strokes	Frank Buckler Tim Woon (a)	Titirangi
1950		Peter Thomson	280		9 strokes	Alf Guy	Christchurch
1949		Jim Galloway	283		1 stroke	Bob Glading L B Johnston (a)	Hastings
1948		Alex Murray (2)	294		1 stroke	Bryan Silk (a)	Otago
1947		Bob Glading (a) (2)	291		3 strokes	Alex Murray	New Plymouth
1946		Bob Glading (a)	306		Playoff	Norman Fuller	Manawatu
1940–1945: No tournament due to World War II
1939		John Hornabrook (a) (2)	291		3 strokes	Alex Murray	Miramar
1938		Bobby Locke	288		3 strokes	Andrew Shaw Basil Smith, Jr.	Otago
1937		John Hornabrook (a)	299		Playoff	Ernie Moss Andrew Shaw	Hamilton
1936		Andrew Shaw (7)	292		5 strokes	Tom Galloway Alf Guy	New Plymouth
1935		Alex Murray	286		2 strokes	Andrew Shaw	Christchurch
1934		Andrew Shaw (6)	288		5 strokes	Norrie Bell	Wanganui
1933		Ernie Moss (3)	300		Playoff	Ted Douglas	Titirangi
1932		Andrew Shaw (5)	289		5 strokes	Arthur Duncan (a)	Wellington
1931		Andrew Shaw (4)	287		1 stroke	Ewen Macfarlane (a)	Christchurch
1930		Andrew Shaw (3)	284		18 strokes	D C Collins (a) Jock McIntosh Fred Rutter	Manawatu
1929		Andrew Shaw (2)	299		3 strokes	Bill Horton (a)	Wanganui
1928		Sloan Morpeth (a)	303		2 strokes	Andrew Shaw	Otago
1927		Ernie Moss (2)	300		4 strokes	Norrie Bell (a) Andrew Shaw	Hamilton
1926		Andrew Shaw	307		Playoff	Ernie Moss	Miramar
1925		Ewen Macfarlane (a)	308		2 strokes	Jock McIntosh Andrew Shaw	Christchurch
1924		Ernie Moss	301		10 strokes	Arthur Duncan (a)	Auckland
1923		Arthur Brooks (2)	312		2 strokes	Jack Black (a) Joe Clements Arthur Duncan (a) Fred Hood	Wanganui
1922		Arthur Brooks	308		1 stroke	Jack Black (a)	Manawatu
1921		Ted Douglas (4)	302		9 strokes	Ernie Moss	Christchurch
1920		Joe Kirkwood Sr.	304		11 strokes	Arthur East Sloan Morpeth (a)	Hamilton
1919		Ted Douglas (3)	327		Playoff	Sloan Morpeth (a)	Napier
1915–1918: No tournament due to World War I
1914		Ted Douglas (2)	313		2 strokes	Arthur Duncan (a)	Auckland
1913		Ted Douglas	303		9 strokes	Reg Butters	Otago
1912		Joe Clements (3)	322		3 strokes	Bernard Wood (a)	Wellington
1911		Arthur Duncan (a) (3)	319		3 strokes	J C Johnson	Wanganui
1910		Arthur Duncan (a) (2)	295		11 strokes	Joe Clements	Christchurch
1909		Joe Clements (2)	324		6 strokes	John Carne Bidwill (a)	Auckland
1908		Joe Clements	335		1 stroke	David Hood	Otago
1907		Arthur Duncan (a)	159		7 strokes	John Carne Bidwill (a)	Napier

Sources:

The Bledisloe Cup was presented by Lord Bledisloe, the fourth Governor-General, in 1934 and is awarded to the leading amateur.

• New Zealand Women’s Open
• Golf in New Zealand
• Open golf tournament

• Official website
• Coverage on the PGA Tour of Australasia’s official site
• Coverage on the Asian Tour’s official site
• Coverage on the European Tour’s official site