Daniel Hillier well placed in Amsterdam
Daniel Hillier – file image courtesy of New Zealand Open / Photosport NZ
Several players were yet to complete their second rounds of the KLM Open in Amsterdam when darkness finally brought a halt to the weather-delayed round, but, irrespective of what happens in the final two hours of play when those players return to the course on Saturday morning, New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier will be very much in contention for a second DP World Tour title.
A strong finish to his opening round on early on Friday, after day one’s play had also been suspended, was followed by a blistering start to day two when the 27-year-old Wellingtonian birdied five of his first eight holes and was out in 30 to take a share of the lead.
Hillier birdied his 12th and 13th holes, but a bogey at his 15th would cost him the chance of the lead through 36 holes. At 7 under after his round of 65, however, he trails Sweden’s Sebastian Soderberg by just one, although he will need to wait until Saturday for his final 36-hole position to be determined.
Hillier’s form in 2026 has been mixed, beginning the season with two excellent finishes in the Middle East before his win at his own National Open in Queenstown, but in his next five starts, he would miss three cuts.
An impressive week at the PGA Championship, where he finished only midfield, but not all that far from contention, was encouraging, and although he missed the cut the following week, a 7th place finish in Austria last week suggested things were in good shape.
The finish in Austria moved him to 10th on the Race to Dubai ranking, and he has started this week as if he might well improve a few spots further by Sunday.
“There was a little bit tired,” said Hillier, referring to the additional holes he was forced to play.
“It was just one of those days where everything was in sync, which was nice, and seeing a couple of putts go in early gave me a bit of momentum.
“Hopefully I can get a good night’s rest tonight and come out firing tomorrow.”
Former New Zealand Open winner, Ryan Peake, has four holes to play in round two but at 4 under and just four from the lead, he has improved sharply on his recent run of five consecutive missed cuts. When he returns on Saturday morning, he has a 15 foot putt for birdie to move him within three of the lead.
Kazuma Kobori is the next best of the Australasians at 3 under and four from the lead, having completed a second round of 68.
