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New Zealand stars Alice Zeimann and Shaunna Polley took out the final stop of the tour, completing their grand slam by winning all four tour stops. They were challenged by the visiting US team Alaina Chacon and Mariah Whalen, whom they would match up with in the final. In an earlier round, Alaina and Mariah were able to take the first set pushing the match to three sets before eventually falling to the kiwis 2-1 (17-21, 21-16, 15-9). When they saw each other again in the final, the home team were able to end the game in two close sets 2-0 (21-18, 21-19) in what was great preparation for the Olympic Qualifiers. The bronze medal would go to the USA team of Peri Green and Victoria Corcoran who overcame New Zealanders Meile Rose Green and Katie Sadlier 2-0(21-18, 21-14) Fellow Kiwis Jack McManaway and Thomas Reid took the men's title, but only after getting past American's Phil Dalhausser, a former Olympic gold medallist, world champion and four-time Olympian alongside teammate Olympian Taylor Crabb. They did just that, forcing three sets after dropping the first, eventually winning 2-1(15-21, 21-18, 15-11). After the semifinal, Thomas Reid described it as a "Surreal moment" and an "unbelievable fight". McManaway said "To be on the court with him (Phil Dalhausser) you want to take in the moment, but you also want to play some good ball. When we took the second set to take it to three, we went, it's about us right now. So let's do it for the home fans and get the job done". In the final, the New Zealand overcame Canadian pair Jake MacNeil and Alexander William Russell 2-0(22-20, 21-19) The bronze medal would go to Brad Fuller and Alani Nicklin who defeated Phil Dalhausser and Taylor Crabb 2-0(22-20, 21-12).

After 145 appearances in the black jersey – the most in Tall Ferns history – veteran guard Micaela Cocks announced on Tuesday her retirement from international basketball. In a celebrated career for the New Zealand women's team, which has spanned 17 years and countless major tournaments, from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Commonwealth Games to the 3x3 Asia Cup, Cocks earned a reputation as a hard-nosed player and a leader on and off the court. She said the decision to retire came after a long period of reflection, as she prepared for the birth of her second child. “It wasn’t a sudden decision for me, it just kind of happened over time as I was starting a family. I might still decide to play domestically (in NBL1 in Australia) after my next baby, or I might not. It’s still open for me,” said Cocks. “The main reason for my retirement is to concentrate on family. My daughter Hazel is three now, and although I’ve been to a couple of Tall Ferns camps, I haven’t been in a competition since 2019 thanks to Covid. I’ve just found that I wanted to put Hazel first and I didn’t want to take her out of her routine all the time to drag her off to an overseas competition. “Also with my age [turning 38 in May], there’s a really good group of younger players coming through the ranks, so now just feels like a good time to step away. I don’t want to be the old slow person on the squad, and if I’m in something then I want to be 100 percent committed to it. And I couldn’t do that with this group.” Cocks said she would always treasure the camaraderie and family atmosphere that came with playing for the Tall Ferns. “It’s always been my favourite team to play for. I’ve lived in Australia for so long now, so whenever I got to go back with the Tall Ferns, it felt like family. It didn’t matter how long you hadn’t seen your Kiwi teammates for, it felt easy and it was always such a great family feel.” At 145 games, Cocks has played more games for the Tall Ferns than any other athlete, 27 more than Rebecca Cotton and Leanne Walker, tied for second at 118. Cocks grew up in Auckland, attending Takapuna Grammar and representing North Harbour as a teen. She debuted for the Tall Ferns as an 18-year-old, suiting up for the 2005 William Jones Cup in Taiwan, before being part of a New Zealand squad that claimed silver at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne the following year. When she also appeared at the 2018 Gold Coast event – earning bronze – she became the first Tall Fern to appear in multiple Commonwealth Games. Arguably her pinnacle achievement came in 2008, when she played for the Tall Ferns at the Beijing Olympics, all while juggling a college playing career for the University of Oregon Ducks in the United States. She subsequently participated in Olympic qualifying tournaments in 2012 and 2016, with the Tall Ferns falling short both times. In 2018, Cocks helped the 3x3 Tall Ferns to gold medals at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup, where she was named tournament MVP. The following year she was named to the All-Star Five at the 2019 William Jones Cup, averaging 17.2 points as New Zealand finished second. That same year she was the Tall Ferns leading scorer at the 2019 FIBA Asia Cup, averaging 10.8 points. She last suited up for the Tall Ferns in 2022, joining the squad in Melbourne for a four-game friendly series versus a trio of WNBL teams.

The Wellington Phoenix Women have emphatically kept their A-League Women finals hopes alive by recording their biggest win of the 2023-24 season. The Phoenix Women have bounced back from their disappointing 4-2 defeat to Sydney FC on Sunday to beat Adelaide United 4-0 in their rescheduled round 16 match at Porirua Park in Wellington. Kate Taylor, Michaela Robertson and Michaela Foster scored second-half goals after Mariana Speckmaier gave the Nix a slender 1-0 halftime lead. The result lifts Wellington to eighth on the ladder, five points outside the top-six with two rounds remaining. “It was a really good performance,” Phoenix head coach Paul Temple said. “I thought everyone from back to front was really good. “It was a good response. Definite change in energy and intensity and we talked about making a mark on the game, and I thought we started well and then in the second half we particularly were quite dominant. “I loved the energy. That’s how I want the team to play. Some of the short passing combinations through the middle at the start of the second half were really enjoyable to watch.” Temple was pleased his side kicked on in the second half. “We’re not great at 1-nil leads this season. We’ve given up some one goal leads [but] as soon as we go two goals in front we haven’t lost. “We’ve been in that situation a number of times and not come out with the win, so to come out, dominate the second half [and] score another three goals was big. “We’ll go to Canberra now and we’ll be fizzing, and the team will be ready.” Temple made four changes to the XI which started Sunday’s 4-2 defeat to Melbourne Victory, with Hailey Davidson, Kate Taylor, Emma Main and Isabel Cox returning to the side in place of Hope Breslin, Daisy Brazendale, Michaela Robertson and Manaia Elliott. Breslin, Robertson and Elliott were named among the substitutes. The Phoenix had the better of the early possession but weren’t able to turn it into a goal-scoring opportunity inside the opening 10 minutes. Instead the visitors had the first chance in the fourth minute when Adelaide midfielder Dylan Holmes drove from inside her half and shot from the top right of the Wellington box. Goalkeeper Rylee Foster was untroubled by the effort, making a regulation save down to her right. The Nix looked dangerous throughout the first half from corners, with Michaela Foster’s delivery in the 12th minute troubling Adelaide before they eventually cleared the danger. Moments later Mariana Speckmaier gave the Phoenix the lead, calmly slotting her shot past Claudia Jenkins in Adelaide’s goal after Macey Fraser had won possession high up the pitch. It was Speckmaier’s 10th goal of the season and seventh in her last seven games. Cox called Jenkins into action again midway through the half when she beat her defender one-on-one on the edge of the box and shot from a tight angle. Adelaide’s ‘keeper did well to keep out another shot soon after, this time from Speckmaier who got more power behind her effort. Rylee Foster made the best save of them all in the 29th minute, producing an acrobatic effort to keep out a long-range attempt from Reds captain Isabel Hodgson. But overall, it was Wellington who looked more likely to score next before halftime. Speckmaier headed narrowly wide from a left-wing corner in the 36th minute and the Phoenix threatened from a couple more set pieces before the break, but ultimately weren’t able to double their lead. The Nix made a bright start to the second half and began to get their short passing game going with more regularity. Taylor blazed over the bar,  Alyssa Whinham rattled the left post and Fraser struck a shot on target from outside the box all within 10 minutes of halftime. Wellington got the reward for their dominance in the 59th minute when Kate Taylor fired home from six yards out after the Reds were unable to deal with Michaela Foster’s right-wing cross. Taylor could have had another a couple of minutes later but she and Mackenzie Barry got in each other’s way as they queued up at the back post to meet Fraser’s cross from a short corner. Michaela Robertson made it 3-0 soon after, tapping home from a couple of yards out after being teed up by Emma Main, who broke down the left wing and produced an inch-perfect cutback from the byline. Robertson had only been on the pitch for a handful of minutes, having replaced Speckmaier. Taylor and Whinham made way soon after and were replaced by Zoe McMeeken and Hope Breslin. Manaia Elliott was also brought off the bench for the final quarter of hour, coming on for Fraser. Elliott had a couple of shots blocked and that was the closest the Phoenix came to scoring a fourth goal in normal time. Stand-in captain Michaela Foster then capped the stellar team performance in the first minute of time added on, smashing home Wellington’s fourth after Robertson’s cross had evaded Elliott, Main and the Adelaide defence. The Phoenix Women are back in action in Canberra United on Sunday for their third match in eight days. They will need to win again to keep their finals hopes alive, but first they need Western Sydney Wanderers to slip up against Western United and for the Newcastle Jets to fail to beat Melbourne Victory. Both of those matches are on Saturday. Wellington Phoenix Women 4 (Mariana Speckmaier 13', Kate Taylor 59', Michaela Robertson 65', Michaela Foster 90+1') Adelaide United Women 0. HT: 1-0

New Zealand’s Paul Coll has gone down to World Number 1 Ali Farag despite a dramatic fourth game fightback in the final of the Windy City Open in Chicago. Coll came into the final in hot form, having not dropped a game so far at the tournament. That perfect record was short lived however, as Farag played at pace to take the opener 11-7 after 13 minutes. World number 3 Coll bounced back in the second, getting more height into his shots and elongating the rallies, forcing seven errors from Farag as he took the game comfortably. A tough rally opened game three as the match continued with no sign of a physical let-up from either player. Farag then regained control, attacking the forehand side to go 2-1 up. The Egyptian started the fourth game in style, showcasing the talent that has seen him sitting comfortably as world number 1. With Farag 10-6 up on championship ball, the game appeared to be over, but Coll had other ideas, saving three championship balls, then drawing a huge roar from the crowd as he crunched a backhand winner down the line to send the game to a tie break. A series of brutal rallies followed with the players going point for point. Farag edged ahead at 14-13 then claimed the win on his sixth championship ball, playing a backhand squeeze which Coll could only help into the tin. “I’m very relieved after missing opportunities to finish out the match,” Farag said on court, after his win. “It’s testament to Paul’s character. He never gives up until the very end. I was preparing for a fifth game and I think that settled me down a bit and made me play a little bit better. I have the utmost respect and admiration for Paul, the way he raises his game season after season.”

First-choice hooker Wayde Egan has been named for the NZ Warriors’ historic NRL match against the competition-leading Canberra Raiders at a sold-out Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch on Friday (kick-off 8pm). The 110-game veteran was originally selected for last Saturday night’s encounter with the Melbourne Storm but was later ruled out with an elbow injury he suffered in the first-round clash against the Cronulla Sharks on March 8. His inclusion sees re-signed hooker Freddy Lussick listed on the bench in the only change to the starting line-up used in the dramatic 30-26 loss to the Storm. The Warriors’ visit to Christchurch for their trial against Wests Tigers on February 18 sparked extraordinary interest but anticipation has gone up to another level for an occasion embracing the NRL’s Multicultural Round. Tickets sold out weeks ago for the first home game the Warriors have taken to Christchurch in the club’s 30-season history. The Garden City has previously hosted eight NRL matches brought to the South Island by the then-Sydney Tigers (1996), Wests Tigers (2004, 2005 and 2006), Sydney Roosters (2010), Penrith (2016) and Manly Sea Eagles (2018 and 2019). While Egan has been named to return against the Raiders, frontline fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (hamstring) and back rower Marata Niukore (foot) are still recovering from their injuries. In Nicoll-Klokstad’s absence Taine Tuaupiki will start in the No 1 jersey for the third week running following his impressive display against the Storm when he made 180 metres from 17 runs, with a line break assist, a try assist and four tackle breaks. Right wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will achieve the first player milestone of the year when he makes his 50th appearance for the club. His double against the Storm lifted his try tally for the club to 39 in 49 games and 88 in 192 career games. The Warriors take two four-point losses into Friday night’s third-round fixture, while Canberra is top of the ladder after convincing wins over Newcastle (28-12) and the Wests Tigers (32-12). The Warriors won both matches against the Raiders last year, storming to a 36-14 victory at GIO Stadium, before a Shaun Johnson field goal gave them a 21-20 golden point success at Go Media Stadium. They have won four of the last six matches between the two clubs but Canberra holds a 26-24 edge in 50 battles dating back to 1995.

Football Ferns head coach Jitka Klimková has named a strong squad to face Thailand next month in Christchurch, the team’s first matches in New Zealand since the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The 24-player squad features 16 members who were selected for the tournament last July, plus a strong contingent of players 23-and-under as Klimková builds toward the next FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027. The Football Ferns will face world No 47 Thailand on Saturday, April 6 (kick-off 3pm) and Tuesday, April 9 (kick-off 7pm) at Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch. “It is exciting to name this side for our first games at home since the FIFA Women’s World Cup and come back to Christchurch, a city that is home for a significant number of our players," said Klimková. “As we build towards the Paris 2024 Olympics, we want to establish a side that combines our experienced players with emerging younger talent to put us in the best place ahead of the next FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027. “I believe with this squad we have found that right balance so look forward to assembling in Christchurch for the games against Thailand.” FOOTBALL FERNS SQUAD Mackenzie Barry (14 caps) Wellington Phoenix CJ Bott (42 caps) Leicester City, England Katie Bowen (105 caps) Inter Milan, Italy Claudia Bunge (28 caps) HB Koge, Denmark Daisy Cleverley (36 caps) HB Koge, Denmark Brianna Edwards (1 cap) Wellington Phoenix Victoria Esson (22 caps) Rangers FC, Scotland Michaela Foster (15 caps) Wellington Phoenix Macey Fraser (3 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC Ally Green (11 caps) AGF, Denmark Jacqui Hand (23 caps) Lewes FC, England Grace Jale (27 caps) Perth Glory, Australia Katie Kitching (6 caps) Sunderland AFC, England Anna Leat (15 caps) Aston Villa FC, England Meikayla Moore (63 caps) Glasgow City FC, Scotland Ruby Nathan (5 caps) Canberra United, Australia Gabi Rennie (33 caps) Aland United, Finland Ali Riley (159 caps) Angel City FC, USA Indiah-Paige Riley (21 caps) PSV Vrouwen, Netherlands Paige Satchell (48 caps) London City Lionesses, England Malia Steinmetz (27 caps) FC Nordsjælland, Denmark Rebekah Stott (100 caps) Melbourne City FC, Australia Kate Taylor (15 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC Hannah Wilkinson (122 caps) Melbourne City FC, Australia

Robby Turnbull and Eunseo Choi have won the 2024 New Zealand Stroke Play Championships, capturing the biggest titles of their young careers. The two 17-year-olds conquered the 156-player field at Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club, winning their first national titles in equally impressive fashion. Conditions could not have been better for the final day, with a light southerly breeze sweeping the links, setting up ideal scoring conditions for the leaders and the chasing pack. Remuera Golf Club’s Turnbull began the final round a shot behind Manawatu’s Tyler Hodge, who led at 16-under. After shooting 66, 64, and 68 in the first three rounds, Turnbull trailed for most of the front-nine after opening with six pars, a birdie at seven, before disaster struck at nine, where he recorded a double-bogey after hitting his second into the penalty area. Turnbull showed maturity beyond his age, regathering himself early on the back-nine by bouncing back with a birdie at 10. He proceeded to make a clutch birdie on the 15th to get within a shot of Hodge and tied the lead on the very next hole with a solid par. He bombed his drive on the 18th, found the green, and two-putted for birdie, putting immense pressure on Hodge, who slid his birdie putt by. With the victory slowly sinking in, Turnbull said it was hard to describe how it felt to have won his first national title. “I’m speechless. After my double on nine, I knew I needed to make a few birdies to get myself back in it. That’s exactly what I did and I was lucky enough to come through with the win. “It means a lot to me. After last week, I had a lot of confidence coming into this week, and all my hard work has paid off. I’m very happy.” Turnbull was part of the Auckland Interprovincial team, which won at the same venue at the end of last year. He pretended he was playing matchplay against Hodge late in the back-nine when it became clear that it was a two-horse race. “I was feeding off Tyler quite a lot. I was playing a bit of match play against him and made sure I was hitting good shots on top of him.” Hodge finished as the leading professional with his fifth runner-up in a Charles Tour event since 2016. Jayden Ford finished in third and won the silver medal for finishing as the second amateur, alongside Kieran Muir at 13-under. Mitchell Kale and Brodie Ferguson earned the bronze medal for finishing equal third amateurs. In the women’s event, Choi also showed maturity beyond her years to capture the New Zealand Women’s Stroke Play title by two strokes over the reigning New Zealand Amateur champion Faith Vui. She overcame a dismal opening round of 78 with a course record-equalling seven-under-64 in round two, which included a hole-in-one on the iconic par-three fifth, establishing a four-shot lead with two rounds to play. After a third round of even-par, she retained her four-shot buffer heading into Sunday's final round. However, her lead quickly became a shot after a challenging start, where she double-bogeyed the third and bogeyed the fourth. Like Turnbull, she quickly regathered herself, making birdies at seven, 10, and 12 to extend her lead to three strokes with a handful of holes to play. Choi’s lead became two following a bogey at the 13th , but played her remaining holes in even to get the job done. The Takapuna Golf Club member said it was great to add her name to the New Zealand golfing history books. “It’s amazing to have a New Zealand title on my record now. I saw Vivian’s [Lu] name on the trophy twice, so it’s nice to win one as well after losing to her quite a lot,” she laughs. “It’s great to have followed in the footsteps of all the great players who have won this event in the past. “I’ve had a great start to the year and I hope this will keep the momentum and my flow going.” Choi now shifts her focus to next week’s Queen Sirikit Cup, where she will wear the silver fern against 36 of Asia-Pacific’s best amateur women at Clearwater Golf Club, near Christchurch. “This gives me a lot of confidence and proves that I am one of the best players in New Zealand – I’m part of the New Zealand team and the Golf New Zealand National Academy. I now know that despite any future form slumps, I have the game to perform at a high level. “I’ll be sweet to go next week. I have a few things to touch up, but I feel ready for the Queen Sirikit Cup. Hopefully, I can help the New Zealand team to a historic win.” The New Zealand Amateur champion Vui took the silver medal, with Pupuke’s Amy Im taking the bronze medal for finishing at four-over, a shot behind.

Reigning OFC Champions League winners Auckland City will be back to defend their title in 2024, after navigating an entertaining second leg against NZF National League champions Wellington Olympic in their national play-off. Going into the second leg down 1-0, Wellington Olympic surged into a 3-1 lead by halftime to turn the tie on it’s head, but two second half goals from the Navy Blues assured them of qualification with a 4-3 win on aggregate. Auckland City’s Dylan Manickum and Olympic’s Jesse Randall looked lively in the opening 20 minutes, but few chances came in a back-and-forth start to the game. From there, the first half burst into life, with a flurry of goals. Hamish Watson got the first in the 20th minute, finishing coolly after a long goal-kick from Scott Basalaj was met by a poor defensive header from Auckland City’s Jordan Vale. Minutes later, following calls for a penalty as Jack-Henry Sinclair went down in the box, Randall quickly nipped in and directed the ball into the bottom left corner, making it 2-0 on the day and putting Olympic ahead on aggregate. The Navy Blues quickly responded, however, to level it up again. Manickum’s deflected effort was superbly saved by Basalaj but an unmarked Mario Ilich headed in from Liam Gillion’s resulting corner to snag a goal back. Hardly a minute after though, Olympic led the tie again, as a save made by Auckland City keeper Conor Tracey saw the ball fly into the path of Watson who emphatically headed home into an empty net to restore Olympics’ lead on aggregate. Opportunities on goal continued to come freely for both sides in an end-to-end finish to the first-half, with Auckland City searching an equaliser and Olympic looking to push further ahead with their attacking momentum. A strong start to the second period reaped almost immediate reward for Auckland City. A cross from Nathan Lobo came to the feet of Regont Murati, who controlled the ball and smashed it in from short range to bring the tie level again. With the aggregate score level, the tempo dropped off for a period, with both sides showing more caution with so much at stake. Just after the hour mark, the teams emerged from their shells and ‘keepers Basalaj and Tracey became more involved with some promising crosses and efforts on goal. Gillion in particular looked dangerous for the visitors as both teams make use of their benches. Into the last 10 minutes, the Navy Blues found the goal they were desperate for. A long ball forward was cleanly controlled by Howieson before he fired into the back of the net to give Auckland City an aggregate lead to defend. Olympic sought to find an equaliser, with substitute Oliver Colloty forcing a great save from Tracey, but the Navy Blues defence held firm. Auckland City will now join Group A of the OFC Champions League in May in Tahiti. OFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - NEW ZEALAND PLAY-OFF 1st leg Kiwitea Street, Auckland Auckland City 1 (Stipe Ukich 72') Wellington Olympic 0. HT: 0-0 2nd leg Martin Luckie Park, Wellington Wellington Olympic 3 (Hamish Watson 20′, 28′, Jesse Randall 23′) Auckland City 3  ((Mario Ilich 27′, Regont Murati 48′, Cam Howieson 81′). HT: 3-1 Auckland City advance 4-3 on aggregate

The March All Whites fixtures against Egypt and Croatia or Tunisia this month have changed host country, moving from Abu Dhabi, UAE to Cairo, Egypt. The change in location comes after the four football federations of Croatia, Egypt, New Zealand and Tunisia simultaneously notified the organiser of the previously agreed W Cup of breaches of the key contract clauses, and proceeded to find a suitable new solution. The dates for the matches will remain the same with the All Whites now set to play world No 36 Egypt in Cairo on Saturday, March 23 March NZT (Friday, March 22). The winner of the fixture will play the winner of Croatia-Tunisia match on Wednesday, March NZT (Tuesday, March 26). The loser of the fixture will play the loser of Croatia-Tunisia on Tuesday, March 26 NZT (Monday, March 25 local time). All matches will take place in the Egyptian capital, with venues and kick-off times to be announced in due course. The All Whites have also confirmed their first fixture of the September FIFA international window, taking on world No 15 Mexico at the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California on Sunday, September 8 at 12.30pm NZT (Saturday, September 7 at 5.30pm local time). The match continues the team’s strategy of facing top-50 ranked sides in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying starting at the end of the year. The All Whites previously faced Mexico at the historic US venue in 2010, where Mexico won 2-0 in front of a crowd of more than 90,000 fans. All Whites head coach Darren Bazeley saw the match as a great opportunity for his side to face a top opponent in a high pressure environment. “Should we qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026, we are going to be playing sides that are higher ranked than us and this game, especially taking place in front of a likely huge crowd which will predominately be supporting Mexico, in one of the countries the tournament will be happening in, is a brilliant test for us. “Not many of our squad will have played in an atmosphere like we can expect to see in this game and it will give us a great taste of what the FIFA World Cup 2026 could feel like, which is no better incentive heading into our qualifying games in October and November. “We will likely have another game still to be announced in this window but we are now in a fortunate position of having the 2024 schedule locked in, with the W Cup alongside Egypt, Croatia and Tunisia this month, followed by the OFC Nations Cup in Vanuatu, Olympics in July, this game in September and FIFA World Cup qualifying in October and November. “We want to take every step to make sure we are as prepared as possible come qualifying and this match schedule should put us in the best place to perform.”

Breakout New Zealand star Kazuma Kobori is ready to rub shoulders with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth at this year’s Open Championship after being officially declared the 2023-24 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner. A three-time winner since January after earning his Tour card by winning Qualifying School last April, Kobori has an unassailable lead with just one event remaining, this week’s The National Tournament at The National Golf Club. While six other players are still in the hunt for the final two DP World Tour cards, Kobori can tee it up from Thursday safe in the knowledge that he will have status when the 2025 DP World Tour commences with the Australian PGA Championship from November 21-24. It is a rapid ascension for a 22-year-old, who only turned professional at the start of November and who, midway through the season, was concerned that he would not keep his PGA Tour of Australasia card. But the golf world is soon to open up to him, including an exemption to the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon in July. “I was just trying to get the DP World Tour card for next year and then my manager called me a couple of days after NZ Open and said that I had The Open sealed up too,” said Kobori. “That’s pretty cool. For me, it was a bit of a bonus because I actually didn’t know that was part of the deal. Needless to say, I’ll take it.” Given that he did not take up golf seriously until he was 12 years of age, Kobori’s earliest memories of major championships are post-2010, when McIlroy and Spieth were at their most dominant. He is now coming to terms with the fact that he will play The Open Championship alongside them in just four months’ time. “Obviously Tiger Woods was pretty dominant at the major championships but I started golf a bit later, when I was 10. Properly started playing when I was 12, so 2010 onwards, the guys playing major championships, those really stuck to me,” he added. “Rory, Jordan Spieth winning The Open Championship, stuff like that. To be able to play in that tournament myself is something that I am really looking forward to.” Truth be told, this PGA Tour of Australasia season was Kobori’s back-up plan. With a category secured at Q School, Kobori’s major focus was the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in October. The week prior, he was individual medallist at the Eisenhower Trophy in Abu Dhabi and, after one round at Royal Melbourne, was leading by two strokes. A win that week would have earned Kobori a start at both The Open and The Masters, provided he retained his amateur status. He would ultimately finish sixth, turn pro three days later and finish tied for ninth in his first start at the Queensland PGA Championship at Nudgee. Two weeks later he squandered a six-stroke lead on the final day of the Victorian PGA Championship and, after missed cuts at both the Australian PGA and Australian Open, took a reality check heading into Christmas. “This was the plan, and the best possible outcome, if you will. That being said, it’s not how I thought it would go at all,” Kobori conceded. “After the Aus Open, I was sitting 38th or something on the Order of Merit and thinking, this is pretty brutal if I’m going to try and keep my card.” As others took a Christmas break, Kobori went to work. After a poor finish at the Heritage Classic to start 2024, he won three of the next four tournaments, matching Tiger Woods’ lofty mark of three wins in his first 10 starts as a professional. Although a missed cut at the New Zealand Open delayed confirmation, if only for a couple of days, Kobori has now advanced further down his professional golf pathway than he could have imagined only a few months earlier. “It’s fantastic; it’s a dream come true,” he said. “I’ll be 23 by the time I start my DP World Tour season properly but that’s way further ahead of my timeline than I could have ever imagined. “This is the pathway that I planned out for myself but it’s gone much more quickly than I had thought.”

Cricket's Hawke Cup will spend the winter in Napier after Hawke's Bay retained the provincial trophy. Hawke's Bay completed their fourth straight successful defence, rolling to a eight-wicket victory over Zone 4 challengers South Canterbury at Napier's Nelson Park on Sunday. Central Districts spinner Jayden Lennox took 10 wickets in the match and captain Angus Schaw scored a century in the first innings as Hawke's Bay completed a perfect rep season. South Canterbury, challenging for the first time in 11 years, had captain Glen Drake ruled out with injury just before the match, then lost the toss and were sent in to bat. Lennox (4-50 from 35 overs) and Ben Stoyanoff (4-51 from 16.3 overs) did the damage as the visitors were dismissed for 253. Tom Ettridge led South Canterbury with 80 runs from 109 balls, including 14 fours, while Jacob Naylor had 32. In response, the holders were always in charge. Openers Jono Whitley (58) and Toby Findlay (54) both scored half-centuries, before Schaw (101 from 119, including 16 fours and a six) racked up his second century in as many matches. Schaw and Bayley Wiggins (56 from 70) took Hawke's Bay into a first-innings lead, eventually dismissed for 358. Ettridge and Jed McKerrow each took three wickets for South Canterbury. Trailing by 105 runs, Naylor, who assumed the captain's armband, and Shaun Rooney provided the only resistance in South Canterbury's second dig. Naylor reached 66 from 133 and Rooney 47 from 47. Lennox ripped through the South Islanders' lineup, finishing with figures of 6-63 from 25.4 overs, while Stoyanoff and Brett Johnson each took two wickets. Chasing 114 in just over a session of play for victory, Hawke's Bay started well as Whitley and Findlay opened with 44 runs. Whitley (48 from 77) took them to the brink before Schaw finished it off. After swiping the Hawke Cup from Canterbury Country in the postponed 2022-23 Zone 2 challenge at the start of the summer, Hawke's Bay then saw off Manawatū (Zone 2), Counties Manukau (Zone 1) and Canterbury Country (Zone 3).

Pieter Zwart has won both the NZPGA Championship and the NZPGA Club Professional Championship in emphatic fashion, capturing the biggest title of his career. The Waitangi Golf Club pro, who used to be a member at Hastings Golf Club, played his final four holes in five-under to leap ahead of the overnight leader Mason Lee, finishing the tournament at 15-under to win by a stroke. He stood on the 15th tee at two-over for the day and seemingly out of contention before recreating history. After making birdies on the 15th and 16th holes, he chipped in for an eagle on the par-five 17th and rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on the last, meaning Lee and Kazuma Kobori needed to birdie the last to force extra holes. When their putts slid by, Zwart was in disbelief that he had just won the biggest title of his career. “I didn’t really prepare for this. I came here with no expectations. I’ve played here countless times, so I knew where I needed to hit it, and I just stayed incredibly patient.” His finish was similar to his club championship victory in 2009 when he beat club stalwart and former New Zealand Seniors champion Stuart Duff, where he finished birdie, par, eagle and birdie. After losing his ball on the short par-four 12th, Zwart remained optimistic that a finish similar to his one in 2009 would get him close to winning the title. “I knew there were a few opportunities coming in, and I hit some quality shots. “I played a club champs here against Stu Duff, who caddied for me. I beat him by finishing birdie, par, eagle, birdie, and I thought about that after the 12th, and I knew I was capable of a finish like that. “I’ve spent countless hours here. I made sure the lights were on the practice putting green when we were here late at night. I’ve hit thousands of balls on the range and played many games here. I’m thrilled to win here.” Zwart not only lifted the trophy for beating the 91 other professionals in the field, he also lifted the trophy awarded to the leading club professional, a title he won by a mammoth 10 strokes. Mason Lee finished in solo second a shot behind, with three-time PGA Tour of Australasia winner Kazuma Kobori finishing in third at 13-under. Dongwoo Kang finished second in the NZPGA Club Professionals Championship at five-under. Mark Brown and Josh Geary fired the rounds of the day on Sunday, finishing with six-under-66s.