Welcome everyone to Final Day of the 2026 New Zealand Open.
While we don’t have live streaming available today, we’ll be reverting to regular commentary updates here on Croquet Scores to keep you closely connected to the action as the titles are decided.
The headline event today is the Open Final, a best-of-five encounter between Logan and Edmund. The match will be played under progressive time limits of 3.5, 6.5, 8.5, 10.5 and 12.5 hours, setting the stage for a tactical and mentally demanding contest as the series unfolds. Conditions are OK: the lawns were mown early this morning and are running at a 9.5 seconds and we are hoping they get to 11 seconds during the day. The hoops have been set well, but with the power that these two players hit with, they can bully most things through.
Adding to the theatre, the finalists are dressed in striking contrast. Edmund takes the lawn in classic full whites — long-sleeve top, trousers, and white cap — while Logan counters in all black, sporting black shorts, a black hoodie, and a black cap. It’s a visual clash that mirrors the intensity we expect on court.
Elsewhere today, the Shield Final will see Reece face the winner of Logan and Harps who have started their match this morning after being 1-1 as darkness approached last night. The Bowl Final promises a competitive matchup between Aaron and Chris who have both completed multiple peeling turns while the Plate Final features Graeme up against Doug, rounding out a full day of meaningful croquet across the divisions.
I’ll focus primarily on updates from the Open Final, but will also provide score updates and key moments from the Shield, Bowl, and Plate as the day progresses.
The weather is overcast but settled — average croquet conditions — but all signs point to a compelling conclusion to the 2026 NZ Open. Stay tuned, and enjoy finals day.

As you can see from the main knockout draw, Edmund has completed six triple peels across his block play and knockout wins — a strong return that reflects how confidently he’s been managing the big moments. Logan, by contrast, has completed just two, which is surprisingly low compared with his usual peeling statistics.
In terms of pedigree, Logan is a two-time New Zealand Open champion, while Edmund has previously finished runner-up in his sole Open singles appearance — so both players know exactly what it takes to go deep in this event.
The final itself has started at a very high level. Edmund set the tone early, hitting cleanly down the line on turn three of a duffer opening and immediately creating a useful spread. Logan responded in kind, confidently slotting the short shot from A-baulk on turn four, and all signs suggest he’ll be looking to take first break through to four-back.
It’s been a quality opening exchange, with both players sharp and fully engaged from the outset — exactly what you’d expect on finals day.

A few special mentions from throughout the event are well deserved, starting with Levi Franks, the current Under-21 Golf Croquet World Champion. Levi not only completed his first-ever triple peel at this tournament, but remarkably went on to finish the event with three triple peels to his name — a huge milestone and a clear indicator of his rapid progression at the highest level.
More broadly, this event has marked a significant moment for New Zealand croquet. By my memory, this is the first time in a long while that we’ve had ten different players complete triple peels across a single tournament. That depth is an outstanding sign for the next generation and speaks volumes about the technical development of several emerging players.
John Versey has also enjoyed an excellent week, pushing through to the semi-finals and recording a standout game win against Edmund along the way — a result that underlined both his confidence and growing consistency.
The other semi-finalist was long-time New Zealand stalwart Greg Bryant. After navigating some surprise upsets in the block stages, Greg built momentum through the knockouts with composed wins and well-executed peeling turns, before eventually being halted by Logan.
Altogether, it’s been a tournament defined not just by the finalists, but by genuine depth, ambition, and a very encouraging glimpse of what lies ahead for New Zealand croquet.

Meanwhile if we scan around the grounds;
Aaron has first break in G1 vs Chris
Grame has the innings in the opening of the plate
Stuckey has got stuck in 2B in the first break on G3 and Harps now has for an equalising break.

Logan is now approaching H5 in complete control, and it’ll be fascinating to see whether he chooses to introduce any popping into his game as the match progresses. Of the two competitors, Logan is far more likely to explore those options, and I’d expect to see a wider variety of leaves coming from him. By contrast, Edmund’s approach is likely to remain more conservative, favouring solid spreads that apply pressure without unnecessary risk.
From a peeling perspective, Logan may well consider TPOs if the opportunity presents itself. Edmund, on the other hand, looks more likely to focus on equalising breaks, keeping the game tight and looking to capitalise when chances arise rather than forcing aggressive peeling lines.
It’s a compelling contrast in styles, and one that could be decisive as this final develops.

Logan was shaping for an NSL, with red on the west boundary, yellow positioned at three-back, and Logan himself laying up roughly level with the peg. The intention was sound, but the three-back ball has finished a few inches further north than he would have liked, which explains why Logan is now sitting noticeably further north than his usual lay-ups in this position.
That extra distance changes the options slightly. Edmund is open on the 3B ball from A-baulk and does have a playable line — he can strike the middle of the ball, but won’t be able to access the right-hand side, limiting both control and follow-through.

Logan has just walked in and said "make sure you include that the leave was Rubbish - he's got a 10 yarder from A Baulk"

Fordyce goes to C3 which is a bit of a surprise to me! Slowly stalks the ball... he doesn't muck around when he's about to strike and he's interested....

HITS! 3/4 ball on the right so he's in a good position and providing he makes H1, I'd expect to see an equalising break. A great shooting start from both of these players.

Approaching H4 and in control.. will update at the end of his turn.

Good spread - Logan takes the short shot....

Hits! I'm expecting that to be game 1 17TP... will update if anything exciting happens in the meantime.

Apologies about the big gaps... I got called off to a few meetings but should be able to provide reasonably regular updates form here.

Game 1: Logan had a tidy finish in his Triple to take the first 17TP

Game 2:
Logan hit 4th turn and went round
Fordyce hit the long lift and failed H1
Logan missed
Fordyce went round and had a spread
Logan took the short shot and hit and makes H1 so that should be game 2 +17TP

Commentators curse!! He's missed a return after H1 and I don't know as I didn't see it, but I'm thinking it was 5 yards or less

Fordyce has a choice of playing Y from 4yNW of H4 and shooting at K (H2) on SB level with 5, shooting at B which is 2y E of H1. If he wants to play R, this is at H2 so the shots are longer.

Chooses to shoot Y from the ball at H1... this means Logan has a H2 pioneer and 8 yarder for a break and a standard TP

Shock! I wasn't expecting that from Logan.. missed 8Y and Fordyce has a choice of 8 yarders...

I think he would go up to H2 and just hit the 8 yarder at K to give him a pioneer at H1 and a ball near C1 for the break

He's spending a lot of time near C1 thinking about playing Y instead...

Chooses to play the ball near C1 and hits his shot.. maybe 10 yards instead of 8. Now means he's taking off and needs to roll a ball into H2 and get a rush to H1, but I'm not expecting any issues

His rush to H1 is about a yard and a half, but it’s actually pointing more towards H5, which immediately complicates the position. He cuts it to the SB on the edge of A-baulk, leaving himself a long approach — a shot with real consequence for the momentum of the game.
He rolls it in confidently, but arrives at the hoop on a line that would make most players nervous — especially me!! Roughly a yard out at about fifteen degrees. He has a firm swing at it, catches plenty of wire, and finishes a foot north of the hoop.
He’s left a very good pioneer at H2, and from here a standard triple peel is firmly on the cards.

I'm off to go and see what's happening around the grounds... then I'll give an update when I'm back

As we do a wrap up around the grounds..
Graeme +17 in G1 and it's currently Graeme 4 and 6 in a break vs 5 and 2
Aaron is Rover and Peg vs 4B alone and Chris has just missed C2 to C4 so that should be a 1-0 lead to Aaron in the bowl final.
In the shield, Andrew beat Harps +12 and is now playing Reece in a single game, no time limit shield final. Reece is on first break while Harps is playing Luke in the play off for 7/8 in also a single game no time limit

Back to the main event — Edmund has one peel completed, with the second nicely set as a two-back pioneer as he approaches one-back. I’ve been genuinely impressed with how much Edmund’s peeling has progressed over the last 18 months.
To put that improvement into context: up until 2022, Edmund had completed a total of just nine triple peels. Last year marked a real step forward, with 21 wins and seven triple peels, and this season he’s continued that trend with 12 wins and six triple peels already. From the look of this break, it’s shaping up very much like that record is about to move to 13 wins and seven triple peels.

It’s been a significant evolution in his game, and it’s now becoming a genuine weapon rather than an occasional bonus.

Aaron takes the first game +4 in the bowl final.

Fordyce lining up the 2nd peel going to the 4B pioneer... gets it in the jaws!

Has a longer approach then he'd like and is approaching 4b from 5ft... is begging it to stop

finishes what looks like an inch dead in front and is OK

Straight double coming up... couldn't be playing it from a better position

Peele just misses the peg and finishes about 2y N of rover... still 2 more good shots required

Opts for a shallow deep ball... gets a good rush to peele so in control

Overhits the rush! Now taking off from 1ft E of peele.. gets the nice little rush he wants

Rushes to 1.5-2ft peeling position

He has had a few problems with his rover peels this event and on this occasion doesn't have a side ball, but I think he'll be fine

No side ball is going to haunt him... he'll likely need a bombard peg out.
Gets the first peel but only by 1ft and finishes in the jaws. I don't think he can run it and somehow hit the deep ball

Or will he? Runs rover and clips the peele - how confident is he to play the peg out at pace from here vs dribble at it and play the bombard

Plays it at weight... looks interested...

Misses! He's also hit it too hard and it's finished 2.5y N of the peg so it's not an option for a bombard for a mere mortal, but by his body language he is considering it

I think he should just try to get max distance for all of the shots and take 1 off and hope for a Miss, but he's still looking at where he needs to get a rush on the remaining live ball to attempt the bombard

Gets a rush pointing to C2 so hopefully her just cuts this to the WB max distance

Rushes it to 2yE of C2 so Logan will have an 11-12 yarder with his 4b ball with a ball in lawn, or, he can have a 16 yarder with his H2 ball and a ball in lawn

I've been amazed at how many 26-25 wins we've had during this event... is this the chance of another one? The weather has cooled down and Logan is into his pants and hoody. No messing about with the decision and the 4b ball heads straight to B baulk

Hits it with confidence and that's a 3/4 ball so the games not done yet! Logan requires 2 good shots to get his 4b ball round to the peg, remembering he doesn't give away any lifts from here on out

Ends up having a 4y rush to 4b... hits it well and is approaching from 3yN

No problems and he's creamed it through 4B. Not a great penultimate pioneer, but I don't think he'll have any issues. I'm assuming he'll be laid up in C2 and Ed down in C4 at the end of this. What I'm intrigued about, is after making penult if he will croquet partner down towards H4 and bank on getting a rush there so he can be getting a better chance of the wired shot at the peg, or if he's confident placing it there from rover

He's left partner at penultimate.. not sure if I like that as an option

He's approaching rover from about 1y NE and is now pondering.. hands go onto the hips, head tilts side to side and it looks like he's set it to rush this ball to C1 not to C4

Edmund has just made a decision that the old Edmund wouldn’t even have considered. He’s come just out of C4 and has opted not to shoot. Instead, he’s chosen what I think is the percentage option, valuing control and continuation over forcing the play. Logan will be forced to play an incredible pick up if he wants to win in the next turn and instead Edmund thinks he can generate another shot.
That choice alone says a lot about how much his decision-making — and confidence — has matured.

Logan rushes to H2.. makes H2 and then lays up over at C3. We're going to be playing some cat and mouse for a little while now

Logan runs H3 and his a rush pointing to peg high on the EB.. Edmund still laid up just out of C1 so there should be lots of wiring options available through H5, or, will he go back towards C3 to stop Ed taking his 'free shot' at the peg

Decides to roll back towards C3 instead which I think is perfectly reasonable

Fordyce thinks about shooting..

Decides against it and plays to peg high on the WB. I know there will be a range of opinions, but if Logan can play 4 good shots, he has a finishing turn by going there instead of being in a corner

Rush to H4 is OK.. but he'd rather have it again as he's approaching from 2y E of H4.. plays the approach and bully through H4. Gets an OK rush to H5 but is approaching from 4y straight

A semi aggressive option to approach, but it's still a chance for a finish if he can get some control out of H5

Good shot and he's got a 1ft hoop and partner is 3y W of the peg... gets a wick out of H5 and has a 5y rush towards Edmunds peg ball on the WB

After a good rush, then plays a bad croquet stroke.. Logan about 1y N of the WB ball and I think he should have opted to just play a medium take off to guarantee a rush to H6.. instead he tried to play a bit of a drive shot, which didn't move the partner ball towards 2B and also didn't get a rush to H6. I will be very impressed if he finishes from here now

Has croqueted Edmunds peg ball towards C3 and it's landed about halfway between H3 and C3. Will now abort back to partner who is currently 1Y in lawn and 8Y N of C1

A couple of big shout outs to all the readers.. we currently have a grand total of 3! Hello to whoever you might be out there in the Croquet wilderness.

Logan stomps the mallet on the ground.. that means there is a target

Fordyce has played to 2y S of C3 and Logan has laid up level with H1 on the WB with a 2ft rush to H6. I'm not sure how he managed to get there, but this might be the first time Edmund is keen to shoot at the peg or at the target

It's the first true test of how patient he is willing to be...

Patience is gone! He's stalking the ball

Looks like he's shooting at the balls rather than at the peg...

He's interested!!!

Ooooohhhhhh! Says the crowd (about 30 people) as it just sails pass.

Past*

That should be Edmunds last shot in the game, but Logan still has to play several good shots before a 3 ball break is established. I do love it how easy this game is from the sideline. Rush to H6 is avg compared with what he wanted.. will be approaching from 3ySE

The crowd was right.. Fordyce just came into the clubhouse and told me it was a Hogan double... couldn't ask for a better target and it was online for the first 99% of the way and just kicked out at the last section. I think with a target like that, it was a shot very much worth taking

Logan makes H6 and when loading 2B getting his rush to 1B, the ball moved by about a foot down the hardline and ends up being a rush to the peg instead! Fordyce will be getting another shot

Drama.. when Logan is lagging back to C1, the ball clips H1 and finishes in C1. Logan walks in and says 'another double left for him!'

Fordyce plays to the WB peg high. I like this as an option

Logan now has a choice of 10 yarders.. his 1b ball towards partner N of H1 or the reverse

Surprisingly he plays the 1B ball.... hits and rushes the peg ball to the EB peg high

Plays a thick take off sending the peg ball up towards C3 and it finishes level with H3... then has a sweaty 6 yarder on Edmunds ball on the WB

Misses!! That will be 1-1 folks

Fordyce takes off to within 1y of the peg and pegs out for a +8 win in G2 and it's 1-1 in the match

G3 is underway! I may have snuck off to get some commentary sustenance, but I think he situation is;
Fordyce went round 4th turn
Logan hits the lift - another spread and may have actually been open. but he's made H1 and is away

I'm really intrigued to see if he will think about the TPO or if it will just be a ball to 4B, or, a ball to 4B and a pop

It's a TPO and there are 2 peels done as he approaches 3B

A correction from the start of the game.. Logan missed his duffer 4th turn and Edmund went round 5th turn

Congratulations to Graeme, who has claimed the Plate Final 2–0, marking the second time he’s lifted the Plate title. Well done as well to Aaron, who produced a strong performance to win the Bowl Final 2–0.
Congratulations to Reece for winning the Plate, and to Luke for finishing 7th overall — a solid result in a highly competitive field.

Back to the TPO and there's 3 peels done as he approaches penult

I can hear Fordyce in the background saying 'I hope he takes 2 off'

It's not going to be the ideal leave... he's run rover with a rush to C3 on partner, can't hit the opposite ball, but good news for him is that the peele is near the peg

Doesn't croquet partner off the lawn and it's 4y off the EB level with H4

The leave;
B (peg) in C2
Y (1) 3y S of h5
K 4y off EB level with H4
R in the box

Here goes Ed with the takeoff...

It looks like it could be a rush!

No.. it doesn't stop and it's off the lawn

He'll be disappointed with that one, but he's good enough to play for that shot and there was enough room behind it you couldn't not attempt the shot

There's a lot of life left in this game

How much patience will Ed have? He's currently down near C4 while Logan is laid up in C2 with a rush to H1

Fordyce takes the shot....

Big round of applause! Hits from C4 to C2

Smashes at H1... lots of wire

Ends up with a rush to H3 and there's a ball near C2 so still one good shot required for the 3 ball break

Average roll out of C2... but smashes his 4y H2 and the break is still alive

Has a 7y return after H2 then doesn't get a rush to H3 so we've got a sideways takeoff

His H4 pioneer is nearly off the SB so he smashes through H3 and has another 5y roquet

Rushes that to 9y S of H5 and his h4 pioneer is 3yW of H3

It's still alive and he's now loading 1b from 6y E of H5 and going to a pioneer for H6 by H3

First really nice croquet stroke this turn and now is approaching H6 from 2ft straight after a good rush so this good be G2 to Fordyce

Not great news for Fordyce... has 3b is still in the jaws of 3B - that damn commentators curse!

He had a squeeze from the position, but McCorkindale hits the 10 yarder at the ball in the jaws

Fordyce shoots from C4 towards Logans on the WB level with 1... hit's the hoop! A disaster outcome

Logan elects to take his 6" rush to H1 instead of croqueting it to H2 and going to the H1 pioneer which is 7yN of H1

Plays a good load to H3 and has a 1ft rush to H2

Logan in complete control approaching H4

He’s approaching four-back and remains very much in control. There was nearly a moment of real danger at one-back, rushing to what initially looked like a death position. But after calling New Zealand legend Graeme Roberts into the game, it was confirmed that croquet could be taken from the playing side — and remarkably, the hoop had not yet been started by around one-tenth of a millimetre.
A razor-thin margin, but just enough to keep the break alive.

That’s the first TPO of the event, and it gives Logan a 2–1 lead in the match.
A big moment in the final, and one that could prove decisive.

Game 3 is underway

Supershot from Logan, max distance Edmund, then a middle of the EB ball from Logan and he's going round 3rd turn

There are 3 little ducks waiting for Edmund to shoot at

But.. the ducklings are the wrong way round which we don't know if he has realised - 4b ball on the boundary

Ed looks at the shot from C1, but decided to head to A baulk

Shot looks good off the mallet

Sails past by nothing! Match winning turn for Logan

I also needed to make a correction to an earlier error.. this is Logans 4th final, having won two and finished runner up against Felix in 2021

First peel completed after H3 and is in control

The penultimate peel is currently 6" in front and he's approaching 1b with a good 2b pioneer - he will need good control out of 1B as it will be very easy to knock the peele out of position from where it currently lies

Though we aren't done yet, a huge thank you to Waikanae Croquet Club for the outstanding effort put into this event and Paraparaumu Club for being the second venue. The effort towards lawn preparation has been good, the hospitality has been great hospitality and this was made possible by the dedication of a tremendous group of volunteers.
A special mention goes to Graeme Roberts and the team of referees for their professionalism, consistency, and calm management on court, and to Tom Berryman and his team for their excellent event management and coordination throughout the week.
Your collective effort created an environment that allowed the players to perform at their best, and it is genuinely appreciated by everyone involved. Thank you for hosting such a successful tournament.

Rushes the peele out of position and doesn't attempt the death roll

Deliberately runs 2b with no pace and isn't going back to attempt the death roll going to 3B. Logan will just back himself to have good control out of 3B, to get a good rush to peele and then continue with the standard delayed approach

Peele is from about a yard and he's on the ground to get good sight

Straight double is from within the jaws

Rushes to 2ft straight and has good reception balls

A good peel and should be home and hosed

Congratulations to Edmund on a strong performance throughout the event — a composed and impressive campaign that once again showed how much his all-round game has developed.
But the bigger congratulations go to Logan, who has claimed his third New Zealand Open title with a 3–1 win in the final. An outstanding performance, finishing the match with 17TP –8, +5TPOs, and +26TP.
See you next year!