105th New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort Round 3

Date
Fri 27th February 2026 (UTC)
Sat 28th February 2026 (Local)

Timestamp
2026-02-27T18:30:00

Time

18:30:00 UTC (07:30:00 Local)

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League
Asian Tour

Season
2026

Round
2

Status
Match Finished

Location

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Description

The third round of the 105th New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort is the critical "Moving Day," where the field transitions to a composite championship course at the breathtaking Millbrook Resort. With the 36-hole cut behind them, the focus is squarely on 20-year-old amateur sensation Yuki Miya, who holds a slender one-stroke lead at 12-under par. Miya is attempting to become the first amateur to win the title in the modern era, but the pressure will be immense as he is chased by DP World Tour winner and home favorite Daniel Hillier, as well as the experienced Travis Smyth.

The composite layout combines the best holes of the Coronet and Remarkables courses, demanding both length off the tee and delicate touch on the lightning-fast greens. As is typical for Queenstown in late summer, the morning calm often gives way to swirling mountain breezes in the afternoon, which could benefit seasoned veterans like Steven Alker and Wade Ormsby who are lurking just outside the top five. For many, the ultimate prize isn't just the Brodie Breeze Trophy, but the direct exemption into The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale awarded to the top finisher not already exempt.

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Result List

Result Description

New Zealand's Daniel Hillier ignited the Queenstown galleries on Saturday afternoon, staging a spectacular late charge to seize the outright lead at 18-under-par. Hillier, the highest-ranked player in the field, displayed world-class composure by finishing his round birdie-birdie-par-eagle-birdie over the final five holes for a 7-under 64. His grandstand finish moved him one stroke clear of the field and put him in pole position to become the first Kiwi to win his national open since 2017.

He is pursued by a high-quality chasing pack, with fellow New Zealander Kerry Mountcastle (64) and Australia's Curtis Luck (63) sitting just one shot back at 17-under. Australian Lucas Herbert also made a massive move, firing a clinical 9-under 62 to jump into fourth place at 16-under. Overnight leader Yuki Miya struggled to match the torrid pace of the professionals, carding a 70 to fall into a tie for fifth. The day’s record-breaking performance, however, belonged to South Korea’s Chan Choi, who matched the tournament course record with a stunning 10-under-par 61, vaulting from the cut line into the top ten.

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