Professional golfer Ryan Fox, from Beachlands, recorded his best major finish after tying for 16th place at the British Open which finished on Sunday.
Fox, ranked 95th in the world and 51st on the European Tour, made world sporting headlines on Friday after his first round at the 148th Open Championship.
He became the first person in Open history to score a back-nine of 29 after shooting a three-under 68 at Royal Portrush.
Fox, 32, bogeyed three of his first nine to lie three-under and in a share of third, two shots off the lead after last Thursday’s round. He made six birdies in his final seven holes at the County Antrim course, Northern Ireland, to earn himself a spot in the record books as the first person ever to break 30 on the back-nine of an Open Championship.
Fox, who has missed his last seven cuts in a row, said of the record: “That’s pretty cool. I did actually ask my caddie, ‘had anyone shot 29 for nine holes in a major’, and I’m sure that happened. He said, ‘Shut up, and just hole the putt’. “You certainly don’t expect to do that. But it was nice to just get out of my own way and hit some decent golf shots and be a part of such a great event.”
The son of All Black great Grant Fox, he posted on Twitter on the Friday: “Well…that was fun! First time I’ve been able to say that in a while, and it’s a pretty cool feeling to make history and hold the record for the lowest back 9 (29) in an Open Championship.”
Meanwhile, his tie for 16th place earned him US$126,313 ($187,454). He finished on 2 under 282 for the tournament.
The winner, Ireland’s Shane Lowry, finished on a 15 under 269 and won US$1.9m. Fox posted on social media that it had been an incredible week at Royal Portrush.
“Unbelievable golf course, brilliant craic and stoked to record my best major finish with a T16. Huge congratulations to the man Shane Lowry, seriously impressive…thankful for all the awesome Kiwi support out there!! So proud to represent NZ and congrats to the Silver Ferns (who won the netball World Cup overnight Sunday).”
