Finch wins New Zealand Open

Richard Finch, the overnight leader at 14-under had a solid even par final round, while his chasers failed to fire a shot.

As he did all week, Finch relyied on a simplistic mix of hitting the right area off the tee, finding the green and rolling the odd putt in.

Even a crowd disturbance during his tee shot on the first couldn't perturb him, recovering to make birdie when his chip shot hit a sprinkler head and bounced to within five feet of the hole.

Aussie Steven Bowditch was expected to mount a serious challenge from 11-under overnight, but three early bogies meant he was out of contention leaving Finch to take the New Zealand Open.

Bowditch Leads at the half way mark of the NZ Open

Australia's Stephen Bowditch shot a seven-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead over compatriot Paul Sheehan at the halfway mark of the New Zealand Open.

Diagnosed with clinical depression after losing his US PGA Tour card at the end of 2006, Bowditch has had an equally poor 2007.

But he found his game on the rugged Hills course near the southern resort town of Queenstown and took the tournament lead with a two-round total of 10-under 134....

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I love a good story and hopefully the depression is behind Bowditch and he can have a good weekend at the New Zealand Open.

New Zealand Open Day 1

Australians Craig Parry and Paul Sheehan and England's Matthew Woods capitalised on calm morning conditions to shoot four-under par 68s and share a one-stroke lead after the first round of the New Zealand Open.

Parry, the 2002 champion and a winner of two tournaments on the US PGA Tour, had five birdies and one bogey.

Breezy conditions later in the day made low scoring difficult on the par-72 Hills layout at Arrowtown, near the resort town of Queenstown....

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