"I played pretty solid out there, especially the back nine where I had 28, which is a first for me, breaking 30. "It was a very tough two years when I thought I might never play golf again. Fox is still handily placed after carding a 4 under 68 at The Hills course and will be hungrily eyeing the more driveable Millbrook course during the second round. A New Zealander hasn't won the NZ Open since Mahal Pearce triumphed 14 long years ago, but with Michael Hendry and Josh Geary ending the day at 7 under, there are four Kiwis inside the top nine after the first round. Hendry and Geary were tied for fourth with Australians Scott Barr, Deyen Lawson and Brad Kennedy, and Indonesia's Danny Masrin.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 09, 2017 06:51 UTC