Hillier and Chisnall Top Opening Day at DVS Pegasus Open

Daniel Hillier opens with six-under to be tied at the top of the DVS Pegasus Open
Daniel Hillier opens with six-under to be tied at the top of the DVS Pegasus Open (NZ Golf)

New Zealand professionals Ryan Chisnall and Daniel Hillier find themselves at the top of the leaderboard at yet another Jennian Homes Charles Tour event.

After a 30-minute frost delay to start the DVS Pegasus Open, the pair took advantage of the cold and still morning to shoot rounds of six-under to be two clear after round one at Pegasus Golf Club.

Beginning on the 10th, Hillier was able to set the pace early with back-to-back birdies at the 13th and 14th, and then again at the 15th and 16th holes to get to four-under through his first seven holes.

He bogeyed the 17th and made the turn at three-under for the day.

Hillier then made back-to-back birdies again at the fifth and sixth holes, and then added one more at the ninth to close out his round in style.

Hillier said it was a positive day on the golf course.

“I’m really happy with the way played today,” Hillier said. “I struck the ball really well which is a good sign; I wasn’t too happy with how I was hitting it in the practice rounds but it’s a new day today and it was nice to put a few good shots together.

“I holed a couple of putts early on as well and I managed to build a good score from there.”

The DVS Pegasus Open marks the first of three events in a row on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour, and Hillier is naturally very pleased with his start.

“It’s been an unfortunate year for a lot of people. We’re very lucky to be out here playing again with some regular competition.

“We’ve got a few events coming up to play in and I hopefully I can put together a few good results.

“We got very lucky out there this morning with the benign conditions. The wind looks like it’s going to pick up this afternoon which is typical out here,” explained Hillier.

Also taking advantage of the early conditions this morning to join Hillier at the top Joining is Nelson-based professional Ryan Chisnall.

Chisnall is beginning to make a habit of adding his name up near the mix in Jennian Homes Charles Tour events, and his opening round was no different.

He played typical ‘chizzy’ style golf making a pair of birdies on the front nine [back nine] to make the turn at two-under-par.

Chisnall began his back nine in style with back-to-back birdies at the first and second, and again at the fourth and seventh to finish with an opening round of 66.

He said it was a big advantage playing in the morning, with the wind making its presence felt this afternoon.

“It was pretty still this morning. I was able to take advantage of a few holes this morning and I rolled with the momentum which was nice. It’s great to post a score early,” Chisnall said.

“It was a pretty typical round of mine today. I just plot along and rolled a few nice putts, I managed to keep the bogeys off the scorecard which make it easy to go low when you’re playing solidly.”

The pair are two shots clear of Josh Geary, Harry Bateman, and Fraser Wilkin.

Leaderboard after round 1

66 Daniel Hillier (PGA New Zealand), Ryan Chisnall (PGA New Zealand)

68 Josh Geary (PGA New Zealand), Harry Bateman (PGA New Zealand), Fraser Wilkin (P, PGA New Zealand)

69 Kit Bittle (Gulf Harbour Country Club), Mako Thompson (Maraenui)

70 Tyler Wood (Palmerston North), James Hydes (Gulf Harbour Country Club), Taylor Gill (PGA New Zealand), Vivian Lu (Royal Auckland and Grange)

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