The 24 year old American golfer Alex Prugh has scored his maiden win as a professional, running away with the New Zealand Open title by three strokes at The Hills Course in Arrowtown.
Prugh, from Washington State, scooped the 216-thousand dollar winners cheque with a scorching homeward nine of 30, six under par to finished 19-under par, three shots clear of another young American Martin Piller, who led the field into the final round.
A third American Jim Herman was alone in third place on 14 under par, and the leading New Zealander Josh Geary completed an outstanding fortnight with a 12-under par total which got him into 6-way tie for fourth place.
The New Zealand PGA champion Steven Alker tied for 13th on 10-under par.
