Two golfing partners have beaten odds of one in 17 million by both shooting a hole-in-one on the same hole with consecutive shots.

Auckland, Waikato, Wellington and Bay of Plenty have secured the four semifinal places at the women's interprovincial golf tournament after a dramatic day at the St Clair Golf Club in Dunedin.

Promising amateur golfer and newly crowned New Zealand Open champion Jake Higginbottom has vowed to return to Clearwater to defend his title next year.

Having watched the New Zealand Open lead slip through his fingers during the final round, Mark Brown was left to ponder an off-day on the greens at Clearwater.

Golfer Rory McIlroy labelled a commentator a 'failed golfer' after a suggestion he should hire Steve Williams as his caddie.

Auckland golfer Ryan Fox surged to a dominant five-shot victory in the the New Zealand amateur men's strokeplay.