New Zealand Open 1st Round. Ben Campbell Shoots -10 Under 61.

Ben Campbell, from New Zealand, shoots -10 under Par 61 in the 1st round of the New Zealand Open.

Ben Campbell

Ben carded -10 under in the first round of the New Zealand Open, playing the par 71 Millbrook Course, with an Eagle, birdie,birdie finish. There is a long way to go, and the task ahead is daunting,  it has been 14 years since a New Zealander has held the Brodie Breeze Trophy;

“I played pretty solid out there, especially the back nine where I had 28, which is a first for me, breaking 30.”

“I played well the front nine and didn’t really get anything out of it.”

“I bounced back well and just got it rolling, which was nice.”

Tied in second place are Australian  Dimitrios Papadatos, -8 under par 63 at Millbrook and another Kiwi Brad Shilton,  -8 under 64 at the par 72 course The Hills.

There are then six players all tied at -7 under par. As this is a two course event, it will be clearer who is really in contention once they have completed the first two rounds.

Highest World ranking player in the field is South Korean Younghan Song, currently at #81. This is a far cry from the New Zealand Open of  2002, at Paraparaumu Beach Golf Course, which boasted the presence of then World #1 Tiger Woods, with the amazing Steve Williams, from New Zealand on the bag, still the World #1 Caddie.