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Live sport on SN this weekendAnthony Kim the inspiration for Truslow's NZ PGA win
John Salvado, AAP •  February 22nd, 2026 7:55 pm
Austen Truslow was all class in the final round of the NZ PGA | Photo: PR
Journeyman Austen Truslow has paid tribute to fellow American Anthony Kim after claiming the biggest win of his professional golfing career at the NZ PGA.
Truslow has been a pro for 11 years but this three-shot win in the $NZ237,000 Australasian Tour event at storied Paraparaumu Beach GC on Sunday was his first on a major tour.
After a couple of early hiccups in Sunday's final round, the overnight leader went five under for his last 11 holes to shut the door on the chasing pack.
Truslow carded a final-round of three-under 67 for a four-round total of six-under 274.
Hugely-impressive teenaged NZ amateur Cooper Moore also closed with a 67 to claim outright second at 277, three shots clear of another American, MJ Maguire.
Teenaged amateur Cooper Moore made Austen Truslow fight hard for the NZ PGA title | Photo: PR
Queenslander Louis Dobbelaar, the 2023 NZ PGA winner, was the leading Australian in fourth spot on 281.
Truslow never looked like being headed after making a remarkable birdie putt from well left of the 10th green and up a steep bank.
"I got lucky and it went in because I could sit there with 100 balls and not make one," he said.
Straight after walking off the 18th green on Sunday, Truslow spoke of the inspiration he took from Kim's global headline-grabbing victory last week at LIV Golf Adelaide.
The former Ryder Cup star had spent a decade away from the professional ranks as he overcame alcohol and drug addiction.
Anthony Kim's win at LIV Golf Adelaide resonated strongly with Austen Truslow | Photo: Matt Turner/AAP
"It's very exciting," Truslow said.
"The thing about professional golf is that you have to just keep showing up.
"I've been playing for 11 years now and you never know when it's going to be your week.
"It was really inspiring to see Anthony Kim last week.
"I don't know if I would have won this week without seeing that.
"I texted a bunch of my friends after that and I was like 'he's been through more than me, and if he can win, then I have no excuses'.
"It's a journey. You have to believe in yourself and keep showing up and thankfully it paid off this week."
It was the start of a big three weeks on the New Zealand golfing calendar.
Next week, the action shifts to the $NZ1.99 million NZ Open at Millbrook Resort, where Australian Ryan Peake will defend his title.
The NZ swing concludes with the first edition of the $NZ1.42 million Japan-Australasia Championship in Auckland on March 8-11.
