Kazuma Kobori almost backed up his incredible win at the NZPGA Championship pushing all the way to the 72nd hole of the NZ Stroke Play only to be beaten by Northland's Luke Brown who created a memory of a lifetime finishing with an eagle two on the 72nd hole to win the New Zealand Stroke Play Championship at the Christchurch Golf Club.
Kobori started two shots clear heading into the final day of play, but Brown showed he was up for the challenge and build himself a three shot lead with three to play. However, bogies on 16 and 17 coupled with a clutch birdie from Kobori added immense pressure as they entered the drivable par four 18th tied for the lead.
Kobori was text book down the last setting himself up with an uphill birdie chance which he impressively made forcing Brown to convert his 20 foot eagle putt to take the title
Brown collected himself to then produce the perfect drive and leave himself 20 feet for eagle to take home the title in front of a packed clubhouse. The scenes that were produced today wouldn’t have been possible without the class of Kobori who after winning the NZPGA Championship two weeks ago is in the form of his life.
Although he finished just short, this was still a great week for the 17-year-old who continues to build an impressive resume.
Matt McLean took out third place along with Hiroki Miya (4th), Nic Kay (7th=) and Reid Hilton (10th=) rounding out the top 10.
Auckland’s Carmen Lim has claimed a breakthrough victory at the 2019 New Zealand Stroke Play Championship in style by a monstrous seven-shots at the Christchurch Golf Club.
Lim has completed a near-perfect week with rounds of 72, 70, 69 and 69 (par 74) to enter the winners circle after many years of threatening at the top level.
Both Catherine Bell and defending champion Juliana Hung finished in the top 10 for the women's field.
