CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND (November 5, 2017) - Wellington’s leading amateur Daniel Hillier has won his second New Zealand Amateur Championship after defeating Canterbury’s Tom Parker 10 up in the 36-hole final at the Russley Golf Club today.
Hillier is believed to be the first ever amateur to have won the event twice as a teenager, continuing to add to his impressive amateur resume this afternoon.
After spending the week billeted with Parker, Hillier put his friendship aside as he completely dominated the hometown favorite and was 7 up through 18 holes.
Hillier had his fair share of luck this week, but he didn’t give luck the chance to strike and was very satisfied with his efforts today.
“It feels amazing, it’s been one heck of a week and I managed to get some putts to drop in the final and that was the difference today.
“Tom was brilliant all week and it was awesome to go head to head with him at one of the biggest events.
“This certainly is one of the more special victories. To win it for the second time feels just as good if not better.
“It is a big step for me and I feel like my career is progressing nicely. If I can keep improving my game I may look to turn pro in a year or two and challenge myself at the next level.”
Hillier now has won two New Zealand Amateur Championships as mentioned, the New Zealand U19 Stoke Play, two New Zealand Age Group Championships and the Harewood Open on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour. Hillier was also the leading amateur at the 2015 New Zealand Open in Queenstown and the Australia Juniors Champion in the same year which earned him a ticket to the Emirates Australian Open.
It has been a big couple of weeks for Hillier after finishing leading New Zealander at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Wellington last week and it doesn’t slow down. He flies to Malaysia overnight for the Nomura Cup, followed by the NSW Open and Australian Open qualifier to complete a huge run of events.
Women's Championship
Silvia Brunotti has won the New Zealand Amateur Championship at just 14-years-old by beating the defending champion Rose Zheng in dominant fashion (7&6) at the Russley Golf Club this afternoon.
This victory launches Brunotti onto the golfing scene which has come at the same age as former world number one and superstar Lydia Ko.
Brunotti showed large similarities to our best female golfer of all time with her extremely calm and bubbly manor as she slowly dissected Zheng, showing no sign of nerves.
This win has a special feeling to it and one that we may look back on as her career evolves.
“I want to be like Lydia,” said Brunotti who looks to be on the right track in doing so.
“I’m over the moon, I know it doesn’t look like it, but I am.”
After being 1 down early in the fixture, Brunotti reclaimed the lead on the fourth hole to never give it up again. By the halfway stage she enjoyed a 3-up lead at lunch and as the day progressed the galleries realised that something special was happening.
The Westlake Girls High School pupil will remember her top 16 victory (round two) where she won the final four holes on the trot against Fuukha Higashi to progress and from there, she was unstoppable.
“I don’t know how to explain the feeling, it’s so unreal and I didn’t think I would get this far.”
There is no time for celebrations as she continues her study regime with her first science exam tomorrow which will require some late-night cramming.
There have been many storylines throughout the New Zealand Amateur Championship, but one feels that this victory will be the most memorable of them all.
ABOUT THE New Zealand Amateur
Match play championship of New Zealand for men
and
women. 36 holes of stroke play qualifying to
determine
the final
32 players for single elimination match play.
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