Ripper GC’s Herbert starts fast at New Zealand Open

Lucas Herbert of Ripper GC shot a 7-under 64 and stands tied for third place after Round 1 of the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport.

He's chasing leader Harrison Crowe, who commanded the Remarkables Course at Millbrook Golf Resort with a brilliant 9-under 62. Crowe, an Australian, has a one-shot lead over fellow countryman James Marchesani (63). Kevin Yuan and Guntaek Koh are also tied for third with Herbert after they both shot 64.

Crowe made nine birdies and an eagle with his only blemish coming on the par-4 13th, where his tee shot flew out of bounds and resulted in a double-bogey.

Crowe won the NSW Open as an amateur in 2022 but is still chasing a first win as a professional.

“I definitely had a lot of things going my way today, and I think to shoot those rounds you have to,” said the 23-year-old from Sydney. “I had the putter going, so it was nice to keep the momentum going after that one mistake.”

Herbert has been practicing with a new putter and put it in his bag this week. He liked what he saw through Round 1.

“I felt like I’d struggled with the putter for a while and I felt like I putted OK today without being amazing, but it wasn’t bad either,” Herbert said. "I hit a lot of good putts and just couldn’t get as many to go in as I would’ve liked. But look, it’s probably going to be a week of low scoring, so it was good to get off to a hot start and not feel like we’re chasing from a long way back.”

Australian Travis Smyth, Japan’s Kazuki Higa and Bai Zhengkai from China also helped put the Asian Tour on the map, with rounds of 65s on Coronet to tie for sixth.

Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion John Catlin, a LIV Golf reserve player, fired a 67 and is in a tie for 23rd along with New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, the newest member of RangeGoats GC, was who second on last year’s Merit list.

Josh Geary and Michael Hendry ended the day as the leading Kiwis. They are tied for ninth following 66s on the Remarkables.

Defending champion Takahiro Hataji from Japan opened with a 69.

Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig, winner of the ADT Rumanza Open Pakistan last week on the Asian Development Tour, fired a 71 on Remarkables.

New Zealand’s Nick Voke, also coming off a win last weekend in Australia at the Webex Players Series Sydney came in with a 73.

The $2 million (New Zealand) event is co-sanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour, in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour.

It’s the third stop of the season on the Asian Tour.

(Photo courtesy of Michael Thomas/Photosport)