Asian Tour: Japan’s Takahiro Hataji makes history at New Zealand Open, as Hend lets title slip at death
- Hataji’s final round 67 gives him one-shot victory at Millbrook Resort, becomes first Asian winner of tournament
- Overnight leader Scott Hend misses three-footer at last to force play-off, finishes second
Twice Scott Hend has had a chance to win the New Zealand Open, and twice his putter has deserted him when he needed it most.
The Australian’s three-footer for par at the 72nd hole on Sunday lipped out, and his bogey at the last handed Japan’s Takahiro Hataji a one-stroke victory at Millbrook Resort.
Hataji’s bogey-free four-under-par 67 took him to 17 under for the tournament, after he started the day in second, one shot back from Hend.
Hend had an opportunity to win last year but “just didn’t hole any putts on Sunday”, this time the overnight leader had a putt from 20ft to win outright, one from close to force a play-off, and then tapped in for his three-putt bogey to sit alone in second having carded a 69.
Australians Anthony Quayle (67) and Matthew Griffin (70) plus New Zealand’s Josh Geary (69) tied for third, two behind the champion.
It was the first win of Hataji’s professional career, with his previous best performance coming in last year’s Kansai Open Golf Championship in Japan, where he was runner-up.
