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Jason Lochhead and Kirk Pitman have scored a first for New Zealand beach volleyball and boosted their hopes of qualifying for next year's Olympics in China.
The 25-year-old Pitman and 22-year-old Lochhead became the first Kiwi team to win a New Zealand Open title, beating Estonia's Kristjan Kais and Rivo Vesik, who are ranked in the world top 10.
Urged on by a raucous crowd at the ASB Tennis Centre, the New Zealanders roared to an early 5-0 lead in the first set and had the edge throughout, winning 21-16, 21-13.
Lochhead, from Tauranga, and Pitman, from Whangarei but based in Mt Maunganui, have been united for four years and triumphed in their third consecutive open final appearance.
There were no world ranking points on offer, but this was their fourth win in seven meetings against the Estonians, who have finished as high as fifth in the world championships.
Pitman and Lochhead are aiming to at least hold their ranking inside the world top 30, which should get them into the Olympics.
The New Zealanders also beat Kais and Vesik last year in Russia, when they put up their best world tour showing. The two teams contested all four previous finals on this New Zealand tour, sharing the results.
Lochhead, whose older brother Tony is an All White, started playing beach volleyball on a court in his parents' backyard. It is a family affair, with his parents playing the game socially.
Pitman was more of a late bloomer on the indoor volleyball courts at Kamo High School, only making his school's top team in the seventh form.
Lochhead played in the first New Zealand open as a 15-year-old, and has steadily improved his finish each season.
"The Estonians are among the very good teams to have come out to our tournament so it has been tough to win," said Lochhead.
"To beat the number nine team in the world is a really big confidence boost for us."
Pitman paid tribute to his partner's serving in yesterday's final.
"Any team in the world has trouble handling his service when he's playing like that ... he played amazing volleyball."
Lochhead and Pitman had trouble edging past compatriots Craig Seuseu and Brendon Heath in their semifinal, although they won the third set fairly comfortably.
The top Kiwi pair, who are backed by Sparc money, take a three-week break and may then play in Australia before preparing for the next world tour which begins in Asia in early May.
The top New Zealand women's pair of Susan Blundell and Anna Scarlett were no match for Americans Tracy Lindquist and Ashley Ivy in their final, going down 16-21, 13-21 in 40 minutes.
Scarlett now switches to the netball courts, with the Silver Ferns about to hold their first camp of the season as they set out to retain the world title in November.
