On 25 November 2012, Higginbottom became the first amateur in more than half a century to win the BMW New Zealand Open.
In 2012, the BMW NZ Open was hosted by The Clearwater Resort in Christchurch from 1–4 December, and was promoted by New Zealand Golf.
•
The 2011 championship was the first major sporting event to come to Christchurch since the earthquake in February, 2011.
•
From 2007 to 2010, the tournament was played at The Hills Golf Club in Arrowtown, near Queenstown, although it was not held in 2008 due to the rescheduling of the event from December to March.
•
The first Open was a 36 hole event played at Napier Golf Club and was won by four times New Zealand amateur champion Arthur Duncan.
New Zealand | Australian Open | French Open | Hamilton, New Zealand | Open University | open source | New Zealand national rugby union team | New Zealand Māori rugby league team | U.S. Open | Zealand | New Zealand National Party | New Zealand Māori | New Zealand Labour Party | Nelson, New Zealand | New Zealand national football team | Wacken Open Air | New Zealand State Highway 1 | Governor-General of New Zealand | The Open Championship | Prime Minister of New Zealand | New Zealand national rugby league team | Zealand (Denmark) | Royal New Zealand Navy | Royal New Zealand Air Force | New Zealand Railways Department | New Zealand national cricket team | U.S. Open (tennis) | Bank of New Zealand | The New Zealand Herald | New Zealand State Highway 6 |