Daniel Hillier was the pride of his nation today when he won the New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort for the first time, following a confident day of frontrunning.

He recorded a two-shot victory over Australian Lucas Herbert, in second place, to become the first New Zealander to win the title in nine years

Hillier, the leader by one at the start of the day, fired a four-under-par 67, for a 22-under total, on the Composite course at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown, while Herbert closed with the same score.

Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura (67) and Kerry Mountcastle (71) from New Zealand tied for third, five behind Hillier.

Ikemura, runner up here three years ago, was one of four Asian Tour members in the top nine. The others were Australian Travis Smyth (68) who finished alone in fifth, while Sweden’s Charlie Lindh (67) and Wade Ormsby (70) from Australia were in a group who tied for sixth.

With Hillier already exempt for The Open, Herbert got his wish and earned the invite to the game’s oldest Major – as the event is part of the Open Qualifying Series. It was one of the main reasons why the Australian competed this week.

Daniel Hillier. Picture by Chris Symes/www.photosport.nz.

Hillier was in control the whole day. He made birdie on the ninth to reach 20 under for the first time and move two ahead of Herbert. He proceeded to drop a shot at the next before restoring his two-shot cushion with a birdie on 11. He finished it off by making birdies on 12 and 17.

The win is the perfect wedding present as his tied the knot last weekend and it completed a remarkable journey for him as he is a two-time winner of the Bledisloe Cup, which goes to the leading amateur in the event each year, in 2016 and 2018.

“I think this is going to be one of the best days of my life forever,” said Hillier.

“I don’t know what number New Zealand Open this is for me, but ever since I started playing it, it was the one I wanted to get.

“I’m so stoked I managed to do it today. Everything that came out afterwards was just pure emotion.”

The most recent Kiwi winner of the event had been Michael Hendry back in 2017, also at Millbrook Resort.

For LIV Golf star Herbert it will mark the sixth time he will play in The Open. He was thrilled to secure it while also full of praise for Hillier.

He said: “I thought it was a nice thing to look at and see Dan in his second week of marriage winning his National Open. I don’t know his life gets that much better for him.”

Lucas Herbert recieves his Open flag from former Open winners Ian Baker-Finch and Sir Bob Charles. Pictures by Chris Symes/ www.photosport.nz

The Asian Tour charts course for Japan next for the first event of the season on The International Series – the top-tier of events that provide a pathway to the LIV Golf League via The International Series Rankings.

The International Series Japan returns to Caledonian Golf Club in Chiba from 2-5 April – offering total prizemoney of US$2million.

Charlie Lindh, the only Swede in the field here at the New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort, recorded arguably his best result on the Asian Tour when he tied for sixth today.

He closed with a four-under-par 67 on the Composite course at Millbrook Resort to finish a commendable 14 under, eight behind the winner Daniel Hillier from New Zealand.

The talented golfer tied for third in the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open last year, but this week’s result, in one of golf’s oldest and most prestigious National Opens, ranks as one of the finest of his career.

“Perhaps, maybe it is, I don’t really know,” he said.

“I mean, I know I’m playing good at the moment. I’m gonna be doing that for the rest of the season, because I’m not injured anymore, which I’ve been looking forward to for a long time.”

He just missed an eagle putt on the par-five 17^th which would have made the week even sweeter before securing a four.

“I mean, it was tough out there today, but it was a lot of fun,” he said.

“I’ve had a big and an awesome crowd following me all week just because I managed to get a great guy on the bag. So, it’s been awesome.”

Lindh has been playing on the Asian Tour for the past two years after finishing sixth at Qualifying School. He went on to comfortably keep his card, finishing 44th on the Order of Merit, the exact same position he ended in last year.

He said: “I’ve put in the work and, like, for the last whatever, since winter, I’ve been able to practice the way I want to. We haven’t been really able to do for the last two years.”

The Swede went out of bounds twice on the first two days, saying he really wanted “to do those two shots over again”.

The 28-year-old explained a grip change has played a major role in his fine form of late. The change has been so effective, he commented he is keeping it “a secret”.

He tied for 15th in the season-opening Philippine Golf Championship at the start of the month and confirmed he will play in the next event on Tour, the International Series Japan, but for now he added: “I mean, just get home safe. I have got three flights to catch tomorrow, and I’m not really looking forward to them.”