Golf: Eagles and birdies flock as pros blitz Gulf Harbour

The ducks were safe but there were 1994 birdies and 75 eagles shot during the four rounds of the New Zealand Open at Gulf Harbour.

Not surprisingly the easiest holes were the par-fives, with the 475m sixth yielding 31 eagles and 311 birdies, the 479m second 17 eagles and 223 birdies and the 489m 11th 14 eagles and 191 birdies.

Before entering the playoff, Niclas Fasth had four eagles, 20 birdies and only six bogeys. Miles Tunnicliff had two eagles, 25 birdies and seven bogeys.

The hardest hole was the 424m par-four 16th where nobody had an eagle and there were just 45 birdies. There were also 128 bogeys, 14 double-bogeys and two "others".

The "others" make interesting reading. Aussie Steve Bowditch, who led on the first day, had a triple-bogey seven on the first hole of his third round. Craig Parry had the only eagle there all week.

Steve Webster, who set the course record yesterday, had the only triple-bogey on the fifth hole, during his third round on Saturday.

The worst score was a nine by Colombian Camilo Villegas on the par-four 14th.