Final wrap of the 2017 New Zealand Speedgolf Open including interview with winner and new course record holder Rotorua's Steven Holloway.
Rotorua's Steven Holloway has broken the course record and beaten the reigning world champion plus a New Zealand Olympian at the TORO New Zealand Speedgolf Open in Rotorua.
The lung-busting competition attracted a record number of golfers and runners alike to the Rotorua (Arikikapakapa) Golf Club at the weekend, as they tried to complete a round of golf in the shortest time possible.
World Speedgolf champion Jamie Young (USA), New Zealand athletics Olympian Nick Willis and last year's champion Kiwi Richard Olsen were top seeds from the outset.
But Holloway, 31, topped the leader board after the first 18 holes yesterday shooting 73 in 43.44 minutes. That gave him a speedgolf score of 116.44 (the sum of his time and golf score).
He followed that up with a score of 74 in 46.10 minutes today- a speedgolf score of 120.10 and an overall total of 236.54, a new course record.
Local Steven Holloway, 31, broke the course record at the New Zealand Speedgolf Open in Rotorua on his way to winning the title. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
Dunedin's Olsen, a former New Zealand 1500m champion, pushed Holloway all the way finishing in second (239.93) whilst Auckland's Jamie Reid was third (245.47).
Holloway was "delighted" with the result and said an improved putting performance todaywas the key to taking home the title for the first time.
"I was pleased after Saturday. I didn't think I'd be up at the top of the leader board with a great lead and over the last 18 holes I managed to scrape through by two or three shots to hold onto the title," he said.
"My putting improved a lot. My approach shots didn't work as well on Saturday but after taking a bit more time my putting finally paid off."
Holloway added it was made all the more special beating the likes of Young and Willis.
New Zealand athletics Olympian Nick Willis finished in sixth place at the New Zealand Speedgolf Open. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
"It feels extra special to come up against those guys and take it out. I knew I had to have a decent score and a nice consistent running time to have a chance against those guys," he said.
"As you know Nick Willis is a real fast runner and Jamie Young is a real good golf player. I knew I had to be in between them to get there."
In the women's field as predicted last year's champion Liz McKinnon of Auckland and fellow former New Zealand tour professional Renee Fowler from Wellington dominated.
McKinnon retained her crown hitting an overall score of 271.59 over the 36 holes. She shot 84 in 55.23 minutes - a speedgolf score of 139.23 on Saturday, followed up with a 78 in 54.36 minutes today.Fowler was second (292.40) with Auckland's Pam Greenhalgh in third (299.42).
Rotorua's Matt Dalton.
The New Zealand Speedgolf Open has been hosted in Rotorua for the past three years since the sport was introduced in New Zealand in 2015.
This year's tournament had over 30 competitors in the premier event and has been included to make up part of an Australasian double with the Australian Open taking place in Sydney the following weekend.
1. Steven Holloway (Rotorua) 236.54 2. Richard Olsen (Paraparaumu Beach) 239.93 3. Jamie Reid (Fitzroy) 245.47 4. Mark Le Compte (Malborough) 250.75 5. Mike Ryan Jnr (Rotorua) 256.45 6. Nick Willis (Shandon) 257.57
