American golfer Robert Gates survived a late scare to win the New Zealand Open, becoming the Nationwide Tour's thirteenth player to win on debut.
Gates saw a six stroke lead evaporate between the eighth and sixteenth holes, and he and Queenslander Andrew Dodt traded shots over the last two holes.
Gates won the title by one stroke with a 14 under par total, and a cheque for $152,000.
The top New Zealander was Josh Geary who tied for ninth, 7 strokes behind the winner.
