It was another great weekend for New Zealand golfers – with podium finishes in multiple tournaments for our top players, along with excellent results for two of our up-and-coming players.

Heading the Kiwi achievement leader board was Ryan Fox’s fantastic win at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland. It is the biggest victory of Fox’s career to date – taking out the title at the Old Course at St Andrews.

The result is Fox’s third win on the DP World Tour and second this year, which should see him make another significant leap up the world rankings to 25th - which guarantees more opportunities at major events next year, including the potential to debut at the US Masters at Augusta.

Starting four shots behind overnight leader Richard Mansell, who had a four-over 76 on the final day, Fox had a three-shot lead through 12 holes after six birdies and a bogey.

He shrugged off some late nerves to card a four-under 68 to finish on 15-under for a one-shot win. He bogeyed the 17th, the famous road hole, which opened the door for Alex Noren who needed to sink an eagle putt on the last to force pressure on Fox - but the long-range attempt just fell short.

Fox then two-putted for par for the win, for which he earns US$816,000 (NZ$1.46m).

Fox opened the tournament with a 66 at St Andrews, before shooting a two-over 74 at Carnoustie Golf Links. He moved into contention with a stunning third-round 65 at Kingsbarns Golf Links.

Fox beat a strong field at the event, with Rory McIlroy finishing two shots back at 13-under, while the likes of Tyrell Hatton (-11), Billy Horschel, Louis Oosthuizen (both -10) and Padraig Harrington (-9) were further back.

On Monday morning, Lydia Ko finished third, two strokes off the lead, at The Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America tournament played at the Old American Golf Club in The Colony, Texas.

Lydia finished behind English woman Charley hull who shot a seven-under final round of 64, with Chinese professional Xiyu Lin in second spot one shot behind. Lydia started the final round in second place, just one shot off the lead, and fired a blemish-free 65 featuring six birdies. She 11 of 13 fairways and made 16 of 18 greens in regulation.

Elsewhere on the global pro’ tour, Wellington golfer Daniel Hillier finished in fourth spot at the Hopps Open de Provence tournament at the Golf International de Pont Royal course in France over the weekend on the Challenge Tour.

Hillier was four shots behind winner Joel Sjholm of Sweden, with Englishman Daniel Brown and South African Deon Germishuys both tied for second - three shots off the lead, and one shot ahead of Hillier.

It was also a big weekend for two schoolboy Kiwi golfers at the Jack Newton International Junior Classic played in The Hunter Valley just north of Sydney in Australia. The amateur event featured 208 junior players from around the world in age group competitions aged from 15-17-years old.

Hawke’s Bay hitter Zackary Swanwick won the boys under 16-years division, finishing three strokes clear at the top of the leader board. Meanwhile compatriot Robby Turnbull of Auckland finished second in the boys under-15-years division – three strokes behind the Australian winner.

Within the wider competition encompassing all age groups, their achievements saw Zackery finish third overall, two strokes behind the eventual winner, and Robby in fourth spot on the table a further shot back.

The Jack Newton International Junior Classic is a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and Golf Australia Junior Order of Merit (GA OOM) event. The tournament was played at the Cypress Lakes Golf and Country Club.

Other New Zealand international golf results from the weekend were:

  • at the Tokai Classic on the Japan Tour, 10 shots off the winner Michael Hendry, tied for 17th
  • Amelia Garvey, tied for 29th at the Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic on Epson Tour in Alabama, USA, 11 shots of the winner
  • Juliana Hung, tied for 24th at the Da Da Digital Ladies Open on the Taiwan LPGA Tour
  • Julianne Alvarez, tied for 11th at the Lake Area United Way Championship in Muskogee, Oklahoma, on the Women's All Pro Tour
  • Amy Im, tied for 9th at The Jack Newton International Junior Classic in New South Wales, Australia
  • Sumin Kang, tied for 15th at The Jack Newton International Junior Classic in New South Wales, Australia