Dunedin teenager Duncan Croudis nearly pulled off a shock qualification for the New Zealand Open yesterday.
Croudis missed out on a playoff for one of four Open places by a single shot at the Russley Golf Club in Christchurch.
The rising amateur made a late bogey to post 71, good enough to tie for ninth in the 104-strong field.
If Croudis, the New Zealand under-19 champion, had carded a 70, he would have entered a six-way play-off for the fourth qualifying spot.
That was claimed by South Australian Paul Spargo, who sank a 4m birdie putt on the first extra hole to edge Europe-based New Zealander James Gill, fellow professional Hamish Robertson and New Zealand amateurs Matt Perry (Hamilton) and Owen Burgess (Russley).
Spargo led the New Zealand PGA after 27 holes last week before falling back to tie for 44th.
He played at The Hills in 2007, making the cut and finishing 2-under-par for the tournament.
Three Australians - Ed Stedman, Tom Prowse and Marcus Cain - took advantage of more placid morning conditions at the qualifying tournament to post scores of 3-under-par 69.
Stedman has been in good form, finishing 24th at the Victorian Open and 29th at the PGA.
The final field for the New Zealand Open will be released today.
There will be at least six changes to the preliminary field, following the withdrawal of some American players.
