New Zealand Open: Dan Hillier surges into lead with late birdie run

Dan Hillier makes birdie on the packed 18th hole at the 105th NZ Golf Open at Millbrook Resort. Photo / Mike Thorpe

The second biggest roar came on his previous hole when he made eagle on the par five 17th.

“I was pretty excited, pretty amped up, coming down those last couple of holes. Obviously, a couple of birdies just to sort of get me back in the mix – and then to finish it like that today was pretty special,” said Hillier.

Up until Hillier late heroics the story of the day was the incredible surge of Kerry Mountcastle. The 30-year-old New Zealander had a share of the lead when he stepped onto the 18th tee – then hit his worst shot of the day to find the water.

“I hit the ground before the ball; I knew where that one was going as soon as I looked up. So grabbed a ball out of the bag and reset,” said Mountcastle.

Kerry Mountcastle of New Zealand during day three of the 105th New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort. Photo / Michael Thomas / Photosport

Mountcastle made a tidy up and down to limit the damage to bogey, ending his round in what was then a share of the lead with Australian Curtis Luck on 17-under.

It was a rare blemish for Mountcastle on a day where he said, “everything was firing”.

“Every part of the game just felt really solid, and I just felt really comfortable out there.”

Adding to his relaxed approach was his part-time caddie and fiancée, Georgia Brown.

“She is here this week mainly because I helped her with her job at the end of January – at the horse sales. She was like, ‘well, I guess I owe you one’, so, she’s out here and it’s a really good relationship. It just makes it easier on me because we’re both out here having a good time together,” said Mountcastle.

Kerry Mountcastle with fiancée Georgia Brown. Brown is caddying for Mountcastle at the New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort. Photo / Michael Thomas / Photosport

Mountcastle and Hillier will be in the final group for the final round as they bid to end an eight-year drought for Kiwi golfers at their home Open. Trying to stop them will be two well-placed Australians in Luck (who will also be in their group) and LIV Tour representative Lucas Herbert. Herbert shot the lowest round of the tournament on Saturday when he signed off on a 9-under par 62.

He’s well aware that the large crowd that surrounded the closing holes is hoping for a homegrown winner.

“There’s a sports-nut part of me that would love to see Dan [Hillier] win because he’s such a good player and he’s a really great, I’d say kid, but he’s married now, I can’t really say he’s a kid. He’s a great dude, unbelievable golfer.

LIV Golf Tour member Lucas Herbert of Australia eyes up a putt during round three of the 105th New Zealand Open. Photo / Michael Thomas / Photosport

“I’m always impressed whenever I play with him, so there’s a sports nuffy in me that would love to see him win, but, unfortunately, I’ve got to try and spoil that.

“And then Kerry’s got his fiancé on the bag, which is always a great story too. So, yeah, try and spoil a couple of parties tomorrow,”

Told of Herbert’s endorsement, Hillier was humbled.

“Wow. That’s very kind of him. I don’t know if he means it or not, but he’s a great man and obviously we all want to see each other do well. But, yeah, I think the Kiwis are all hoping for a Kiwi this time round,” said Hillier.

Lucas Herbert with caddie Nick Pugh. Photo / Michael Thomas / Photosport

Herbert is a refreshingly honest sportsman – when asked how he’ll sleep on the eve of the final round where he’ll be right in contention, he forewarned that his answer would be predictable.

“I’m gonna say a heap of cliche s*** here that’s not gonna be any fun for you guys as journalists, but literally just like stick to processes and do the things that I’ve done for the last 51 holes to get myself back into this position.”

He says “51 holes” because after the first three of the 54, he’s played so far, he was 3-over par.

Herbert has played the next 51 holes in 19-under par.

“This course lends itself to low scoring, so it’s not impossible to go and have 62 or 63 out there,” says Herbert.

Daniel Hillier of New Zealand hopes his name will remain on top of the leaderboard when the tournament ends on Sunday evening. Photo / Michael Thomas / Photosport

Scoring may be harder on the final day with the weather forecast predicting an end to the golden weather of the second and third rounds.

Mountcastle believes it’ll still take a low score to get his hands on the Brodie Breeze trophy.

“It’s supposed to be a bit colder with maybe a bit of wind, so it might not be that low, but this course is one of those courses where you sort of need to shoot low.”

Mountcastle and Hillier will tee off just before 1pm. Another all-Kiwi grouping will be just ahead of them at 12.26pm with PGA Champions Tour heavyweight Steven Alker (-12) paired with young amateur Yuki Miya (-13). Left-hander Sam Jones is another well-placed New Zealander at 12-under.

There’s no doubt who the local galleries will be following around the final 18 holes at Millbrook Resort.

Mike Thorpe is a senior multimedia journalist for the Herald, based in Christchurch. He has been a broadcast journalist across television and radio for 20 years and joined the Herald in August 2024.