New Zealand Open: Final Qualifiers found at Cromwell

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Attention: Sports Editors

Tuesday February 25, 2014

New Zealand Open: Final Qualifiers found at Cromwell

The New Zealand Open Championship field is complete after the final five places were filled at Final Qualifying today at the Cromwell Golf Club.

Queensland professional Aaron Pike secured the top spot down the road from the Open venues, The Hills and Millbrook, when he won the event with a six-under par 66 in the fine and warm conditions.

Professional John Bae and Christchurch amateur Jordan Bakermans finished in a share of second place when they carded rounds of four-under par 68.

Three players – Australian pro James Gibellini, Canterbury pro Carl Brooking and amateur Oscar Cadenhead – all finished in a share of fifth place and Cadenhead missed out in the playoff.

Bakermans, a former New Zealand rep, was stoked to secure his first start in the New Zealand Open.

“It is going to be a great experience,” said the Canterbury rep.

“It was a huge goal of mine in the last couple of weeks and to play well and get through under pressure, I am pretty happy.”

Bakermans was one of the first groups off and he wasn’t sure whether his 68 was going to be good enough for one of the five spots.

“I was waiting around for about two hours and I couldn’t stand still. I was pretty nervous and it was a tough wait.”

He said the key to his round, where he made six birdies and two bogeys, was his “amazing ball striking”.

“My putter was a bit cold but as long as you are hitting greens it is pretty stress-free golf.”

Bakermans said it was a huge achievement to be playing in the NZ Open.

“It means everything to me. Just walking in the gates of The Hills is a special feeling. I saw Ricky Ponting before and it’s awesome to be around those sorts of guys. To mix it up with the best. I am looking forward to the challenge this week and the first goal is to make the cut.”

New Zealand Open Championship Final Qualifying – Cromwell Golf Club (Par 72): (NZ unless noted):
66 Aaron Pike (AUS)
68 John Bae, Jordan Bakermans (a)
69 James Gibellini (AUS), Carl Brooking, Oscar Cadenhead (a)*
(*Cadenhead missed out in the playoff and will be second alternate)
70 Daniel Griffin (AUS) Denzel Ieremia (a), Ed Stedman (AUS)
71 Jordan Green, Lachie McDonald (a)
72 Jeremy Hall, Anthony Doyle, Brandon Hodgson, Sven Puymbroeck, Marc Jennings (a), Peter Smith, Jared Armstrong
73 Bailey Smith (a), Jamie Arnold (AUS)
74 Troy Cox (AUS), Pieter Zwart, Graham Daniel, Mac Boucher, Hayden Beard
75 Rika Batibasaga (AUS), Michael Smith
76 Grant Kenny, Rory Bourke (AUS), JJ Love, Michael Wachtler
78 Cody Harper, Hayden Ring (a), Sean Tan

NZ Open Fact Box
When: February 27 to March 2
Where: The Hills and Millbrook, Central Otago
Follow the NZ Open
• www.nzopen.co.nz
• facebook: New Zealand Open
• @nzopengolf
• #NZOpen

NZ Open
• A minimum professional field of 132 players will play the first two rounds alternately at The Hills and Millbrook before the second round cut of 60 + ties.
• The NZ Open Champion will be the leading player after 72 holes of stroke play.

NZ Pro-Am Championship
• The NZ Pro-Am Championship will run concurrently to the main tournament.
• A minimum of 132 amateurs will partner with a professional and play in a best-ball format.
• The top 35 pro-am teams will progress to round 3 at the Hills and the top 10 pro-am teams will progress to play in the final round.

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