8.15pm - By MARTIN DAVIDSON
UPDATED REPORT - Australian golfer Terry Price cast himself in the role of villain after winning the New Zealand Open at the Grange in Auckland today.
Price knew his victory deprived swelling crowds of a fairytale as he edged out New Zealand amateur Brad Heaven by one stroke to walk away with the winner's cheque of $126,000.
He almost wanted Heaven to win it as well, appreciating what a special occasion it would have been, coming 50 years since the celebrated Sir Bob Charles won the same championship as an amateur.
"What a great story that would have been for New Zealand golf," Price said.
"I got a bit hypocritical out there today, because as much as I wanted to win it myself it would have been a great event for Brad to win," Price said.
He shot an even par 70 in the fourth and final round today to protect his one-shot overnight lead from Heaven, who held himself together to score an identical number in trying, windy conditions.
"I knew what was going on because I kept looking at the scoreboards and I knew I had the money locked up, but I also felt it'd be a great event for Brad to win, for New Zealand golf, for the sponsors, for you guys," he told the media.
"I suppose you guys just want to me to go home. I'm sorry."
Price's competitive instincts won out as he finished nine-under, with Heaven one back. New Zealand's David Smail came home under a full sail as a four-under 66 propelled him to a share of third equal at six-under with another Australian, Peter Senior, who scored 65.
More Australians, in the form of David Brandson and Andrew Buckle, shared fifth place on 275 while Palmerston North's Richard Best was chuffed to finish seventh equal in his first appearance as a professional at the New Zealand Open.
He signed off with 72, including a bogey at the last.
What separated Price from his peers was his putter, as he ended the championship with an average of 29.8 putts per round.
Not long ago Price, 43, of Queensland, gave a fair impression of a blind man on the greens. But a series of tips from fellow Australian Aaron Baddeley has led to a marked turnaround for both his confidence and results with putter in hand.
Price sought out Baddeley at last month's Australian Open, and the young United States PGA Tour player left his older compatriot with a checklist of five simple fundamentals to remind himself when lining up putts.
"I had been putting atrociously but I now feel as if I am no longer taking a knife to a gun fight," he said.
The Grange's slopey greens caught many players out today, among them Price, who three-putted the 15th to fall back into a tie with Heaven on eight-under.
Heaven had the jitters himself, three-putting the 14th and 15th holes before driving the 326m par-four 16th almost to the green where a birdie kept alive his hopes of becoming the first amateur since 1956 to win the open.
"The one at 14 really killed me. I flew it three feet past the hole and by then that was too much for me," Heaven, 23, said after his second putt lipped out.
He was proud of himself for holding up as the pressures of the past week climaxed this afternoon.
Heaven, who shared the lead after the first round and had it to himself at the halfway point, was in contention to the last.
"I gave myself a chance after nine but the dice didn't fall my way coming down the stretch."
Heaven will be back though, as will Price, who promised to defend the title in another 12 months.
The young New Zealander has a long career ahead of him when he decides to turn professional.
He has not committed himself to that path but it is one awaiting him after he graduates in June from the University of Toledo in the United States where he is studying for a business degree.
He is a shoo-in for the New Zealand team to contest the Eisenhower Trophy world amateur teams event in Puerto Rico in October.
The first casualty today was Australian Greg Chalmers, who was disqualified after officials learned he had signed an incorrect scorecard after yesterday's third round.
- NZPA
Golf: NZ Open champion feels more villain than victor
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