Richard Finch has taken a three-shot victory in the centenary New Zealand Open in Queenstown.
First European Tour victory for 30-year-old
Richard Finch has capped a hitherto miserable year in spectacular style - with victory in the centenary New Zealand Open in Queenstown.
The 30-year-old Englishman shot a final-round level-par 72 to clinch a three-shot winning margin and a 14-under-par total, Finch having surged clear of the field on Saturday thanks to a course record 64 at The Hills Golf Club.
The success was also his first on the European Tour and came following a 2007 season in which he had to earn a top-15 finish in the final event - the Mallorca Classic - to avoid a trip to qualifying school.
Up and down
Finch's final round was very much an up-and-down affair, with four bogies being matched by four birdies - two of each coming on the outward nine.
Neverheless, by the turn Finch had built a six-shot lead over his pursuers, led Australians Steven Bowditch and Paul Sheehan, and although that gap was halved coming home, he never looked likely to be caught - victory coming with a 12-foot par putt on the 18th green.
Bowditch and Sheehan eventually shot rounds of 72 and 69 respectively to tie for second place, with another group of Australians, including Craig Parry, one shot further back.
Heading into the final round placed second on his own at 11 under par, Bowditch was slipping back after suffering five bogeys and three birdies; however, a monster putt for eagle on the 17th propelled him back up the leaderboard.
Meanwhile, Sheehan enjoyed a less frenetic final round, scoring five birdies and two bogeys.
While Finch celebrated his breakthrough success, however, it was in the knowledge that his course record had only lasted 24 hours - Australian Peter Fowler eclipsing it with a ten-under 62.
Charles stars
But the biggest cheer of the day was reserved for arguably New Zealand's greatest ever golfer, Bob Charles. Now 71-years-old and playing by special invitation, the 1963 Open champion shot a two-under 70 - bettering his age for the third successive round.
Charles' four-under total was also good enough for 23rd overall and placed him second of the 13 Kiwis who made the cut - 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell not among them.
