Daniel Hillier wins 2019 Male Amateur Award

3/08/2020

Daniel Hillier has won the Male Amateur of the Year award at the 2019 National Golf Awards despite only being eligible for the award for half of the year.

Hillier transitioned to the professional ranks in September last year after winning the first stage of European Tour Qualifying School and made his professional debut at the KLM Open on the European Tour. 

The Wellingtonian had a stellar amateur career which saw him win on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour, capture two New Zealand Amateur Championships and two New Zealand Age Group Championships, and was co-medalist at the US Amateur at Pebble Beach.

However, in 2019 Hillier qualified for his maiden major championship at the US Open, also held at Pebble Beach.

Hillier says the recognition is the icing on the cake to his successful amateur career.

“This is really special. I’m very grateful for the acknowledgement.

“I had a pretty awesome final year as an amateur where I got to play in my first major championship, the US Open at Pebble Beach.

“I was obviously only eligible for half the year but I had a lot of valuable experiences which set me up for the latter half of the year as a professional which I’m grateful for, and to win the award at the end of my amateur career is really special,” Hillier says.

The rookie professional says it’s an honor to be recognised among everyone who contributes to golf in New Zealand.

“Everyone involved in golf in New Zealand all work incredibly hard to make the game as good as it can be and to have those people recognised at a national level is special.”