Australian Brad Kennedy has cruised to victory at the Holden NZ PGA Championship today at Remuera Golf Club in Auckland.
Starting the final round in a share of the lead, Kennedy teed off in the final group of the day alongside New Zealander Josh Geary and New South Welshman James Nitties.
Opening with a birdie, Kennedy never looked back and sealed his victory with a birdie at the last to win with a tournament total of 22-under 266.
Blemish free in the final round, Kennedy fired 5-under 67 to claim the New Zealand double after he also won the New Zealand Open in 2011.
The crowd favourite, Josh Geary’s campaign unravelled at the 17th hole where a bogey dashed New Zealand’s hopes of a Kiwi winner. He’s finished in a share of runner-up and leading New Zealander for the second consecutive year.
Joining Geary in the runner up position was New South Welshman Neven Basic. Playing the group ahead of the eventual champion, Basic fired 6-under 66 for a tournament total of 20-under 268.
New Zealand’s second highest ranked player in the world, Ryan Fox gave the locals plenty to cheer about firing 7-under the card today to finish the tournament outright fourth on 19-under 269.
A further shot back and rounding out the top-5 on the leaderboard was another Kiwi Michael Hendry and James Nitties.