Australia have avenged their loss to New Zealand earlier this year by beating the trans-tasman rivals 7-2 in the opening round of the Four Nations men's golf tournament near Melbourne.
Trailing 2-1 after the morning foursomes, the New Zealanders succumbed 5-1 in the afternoon singles in cold and windy conditions at Barwon Heads Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula.
Australia, chasing their sixth straight win in the international quadrangular involving New Zealand, Canada and Japan, got ahead early in the afternoon singles and never relinquished their grip.
They were keen to reverse the result in February when New Zealand won the clash in the Trans Tasman Cup.
Danny Lee and Troy Ropiha won their foursomes, while New Zealand's only singles success came from Andrew Searle.
In the other match Canada, down 3-nil to Japan after the morning foursomes, did not lose a singles match to claim the points 5½ to 3½.
New Zealand take on Canada today with Australian playing Japan.
