Jones hit 'the two best shots of my life' to make vital birdies down the stretch and edge away from the pack, he said. I hit a lot of good shots through the middle of the round, made some clutch par saves on a few of the holes coming in.' When you are out there playing you aren't thinking about winning, you are just thinking about playing. 'This is just incredible, I've been supporting this event for many years and I've' always said to myself as long as my bum is pointing to the ground, I'll never win it,' Jones said. He survived a loose approach on 17 to push his lead out to three and then rolled in a short par putt on 18 before wiping champagne, and possibly a few tears, from his eyes. Jones, playing not far from where the Otago gold rush started, staked his claim with a two-putt birdie on 14 before a tap-in birdie on the par 3 15th. Japan's Tomoyo Ikemura and Terumichi Kakazu, Australians Chris Wood and John Lyras, Korean Jaewoong Eom and Queenstown professional Ben Campbell were amongst those lining up for a piece of the Brodie Breeze trophy. Jones began the day four shots behind compatriot Shae Wools-Cobb, but the overnight leader would go on to shoot the worst Sunday round of the field to leave the throne vacant for a host of challengers. There would be few more popular winners of this event than Jones, a perpetual ambassador for Queenstown and the New Zealand Open in Japan, where he is considered the most successful foreigner to have played on the Japanese tour. The 48-year-old, who only just survived the cut after two rounds of 69, produced a standout 62 on Saturday and then drained back-to-back birdies late on Sunday afternoon when it seemed a stacked leaderboard was destined for a playoff. Photo: PhotosportĪustralian golfer Brendan Jones timed his run perfectly to claim his first win in four years at the 102nd New Zealand Open. Back into the fold and hoping to return to old form, his Hull KR side host Leigh Leopards on Friday night at Craven Park as Rovers look to continue their 100% start to the season under new coach Willie Peters.Brendan Jones from Australia after winning the 102nd New Zealand Golf Open. Last season he was limited to just 13 appearances after suffering a significant tear in his quad. Abdull's early form is showing signs of his terrific 2021 season, which he was rewarded at the end of the season with an England first-team call-up.

George Williams, Clifford, Harry Smith, Mickael Goudemand and Alex Walmsley all picked up the maximum points over the weekend, and all find themselves within the top 10 list.

Australian open leaderboard