Dual NZ Open champion Brad Kennedy has held his nerve to shoot an eagle on the 16th hole and a birdie on the last at Rosebud Country Club in Victoria to win the first of The Players Series hosted by Geoff Ogilvy by one shot after there was a four-way tie with only three holes to play.
The four players tied on 14-under before Kennedy teed off on the 16th included two male professionals, Kennedy and Matthew Millar, a male amateur Elvis Smylie and Australian woman golfer Su Oh.
It was left to Kennedy to break the field apart at that point with an eagle on 16, followed shortly by a birdie from Smylie on 17 and the contest was down to two.
Smylie in fact finished birdie, birdie, birdie to tie for the lead on 16-under with Kennedy having one hole to play. On his approach shot to 18, Kennedy set it perfectly knowing he needed a birdie to win the tournament and his ball finished three-foot from the hole.
He holed the putt to finish with a 3-under today and 17-under for the tournament, one shot ahead of the 18-year-old Smylie. Su Oh finished tied for third with Nathan Barbieri.
Kiwi Mike Hendry shot a 6-under 65 to shoot up the leaderboard on the final day, at one stage place only three shots from the leaders.
Hendry had seven birdies and only the one bogey on the 6th to finish the tournament tied for 14th on 10-under par.
Mr consistent Daniel Hiller shot four birdies and just one bogey as well to finish with a 3-under 68 in the final round and was tied for 17th at the end of the four days on 9-under.
