Lingering over the excitement of the third tournament to be held at The Hills is the uncertainty over the event's future.
The Nationwide's deals with both the Australasian PGA and the course expire after this week.
It seems there is widespread eagerness for the Open to stay at Michael Hill's exclusive club, but there is also some doubt whether the link with the second-tier American tour will continue.
"I don't know a whole lot.
"I can just tell you that we're always looking at the best way to go about our business," Nationwide tournament director Jim Duncan said yesterday.
"With the down economy in the US, this next year will be very interesting.
"I don't think, in any way, we are trying to run from playing over here.
"It's just a matter of what we have to put in, and what the 78 players who come over here have to put in.
"I don't know if there's an answer yet.
"We'll look at everything."
Last year, the Nationwide Tour had three events down under: the Open, the New Zealand PGA and the Moonah Classic, in Australia.
The PGA lost its status after losing its major sponsor, leaving the bare minimum two tournaments to justify the long trip to Australia and New Zealand.
Duncan, attending his second New Zealand Open, made warm comments about the event.
"The Open has got the makings of being a real top-notch tournament.
"As long as we feel it can grow financially, maybe we can keep coming."
He told the morning pro-am group The Hills was among the best courses he had seen.
"I think the golf course is in awesome condition.
"It is very well-prepared, probably as good as it could be.
"The firmness of the fairways is good.
"Probably the only challenge right now is that it got a little dry on the greens and we have to manage a little bit of irrigation there.
"We'd like to see the greens continue to dry out and get hard.
"That'll present a good challenge."
