Asian Tour: Japan’s Takahiro Hataji makes history at New Zealand Open, as Hend lets title slip at death
- Hataji’s final round 67 gives him one-shot victory at Millbrook Resort, becomes first Asian winner of tournament
- Overnight leader Scott Hend misses three-footer at last to force play-off, finishes second
Twice Scott Hend has had a chance to win the New Zealand Open, and twice his putter has deserted him when he needed it most.
The Australian’s three-footer for par at the 72nd hole on Sunday lipped out, and his bogey at the last handed Japan’s Takahiro Hataji a one-stroke victory at Millbrook Resort.
Hataji’s bogey-free four-under-par 67 took him to 17 under for the tournament, after he started the day in second, one shot back from Hend.
Hend had an opportunity to win last year but “just didn’t hole any putts on Sunday”, this time the overnight leader had a putt from 20ft to win outright, one from close to force a play-off, and then tapped in for his three-putt bogey to sit alone in second having carded a 69.
Australians Anthony Quayle (67) and Matthew Griffin (70) plus New Zealand’s Josh Geary (69) tied for third, two behind the champion.
It was the first win of Hataji’s professional career, with his previous best performance coming in last year’s Kansai Open Golf Championship in Japan, where he was runner-up.
“I was preparing for a play-off,” Hataji said. “I am really thrilled, very happy. The whole day was a fight. It was a struggle, but I am happy I came through it. My emotions really came to the surface.
“I holed a long putt on the 11th, and that’s when I felt ‘I can do this’.”
Boasting five top-five finishes on the Japan Golf Tour in 2023, 30-year-old Hataji is not only the first player from Japan to win the New Zealand Open but the first from Asia, surpassing the runner-up finishes of countrymen Tomoyo Ikemura (2023) and Hideto Tanihara (2016).
Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho began the day two shots adrift of the lead on 12 under, and ended his tournament on the same score after an erratic 71, which included three birdies and three bogeys.
Young Indonesian golfer Jonathan Wijono, who plays on the Asian Development Tour, completed a memorable week, signing for a 68 to finish in a tie for 34th, which helped him win the Pro-Am part of the tournament, alongside amateur partner Jubilant Harmidy.
The Asian Tour has a week off before heading to the International Series Macau, Macau Golf and Country Club from March 14 to 17.
