Australian Scott Hend has no regrets about his aggressive approach after three-putting the final hole and paving the way for Takahiro Hataji to become the first Japanese golfer to win the storied New Zealand Open.
At the age of 50, Hend was aiming to become the oldest man in the modern era to lift the NZ Open trophy.
The Queenslander made back-to-back birdies on the 16th and 17th holes at Millbrook Resort on Sunday to draw level with world No.518 Hataji at 17 under.
Playing in the last group, Hend flew his tee shot on the par-3 18th long over the pin and ended up three-putting for bogey after his five-foot par attempt slid by.
"I can't blame the last hole," Hend told AAP.
"I hit a really good shot in there.
"I thought I hit a really good putt. With the second one, again I thought I hit a really good putt and it didn't break and it lipped out.
"You can't narrow it down just to that.
"I missed the shorter ones earlier in the round and that builds the pressure as you go on.
"But I didn't come here to play for second.
"When I was standing over the first putt I wanted to finish it right there and then and that's all there is to it."
Despite his age, Hend has little interest in playing regularly on the senior tours, firmly believing he can still hold his own against the younger generation on the Asian Tour and elsewhere.
"It would have been nice to win this tournament at the age of 50 but there are still plenty more wins in me," he said.
"I'll just keep trying and keep plugging along and it will come.
"I'm playing well and it's just a matter of when it's your time to win, it's your time."
On Sunday, it was Hataji's time as he claimed his first win as a professional after a couple of near misses last year on the Japanese Tour.
The 30-year-old closed with a four-under 67 for a four-round total of 17-under 267, one shot ahead of Hend (69).
"I really feel very happy," said Hataji after becoming the first Japanese player to win the NZ Open, a tournament that dates all the way back to 1907.
"The whole day was a fight, a struggle and I came through it.
"And I have to admit, I was glad when (Hend) missed (the final putt)."
Australians Matthew Griffin (70) and Anthony Quayle (67) and New Zealander Josh Geary (69) shared third spot at 15 under.
Defending champion Brendan Jones from Australia ended up tied for 58th at five under after closing with a 71 in the $NZ2 million ($A1.885 million) Open, which is co-sanctioned by the Austraslian and Asian Tours.
Despite missing the halfway cut, New Zealand tyro Kazuma Kobori locked in top spot on the Australasian Tour Order of Merit with one event still to play after none of his closest challengers was able to make up significant ground on Sunday.
