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Golf NZ - 2023 Mid-Amateur Men’s & Women’s Results
Local Omanu member Hayden White playing in the 2023 Golf New Zealand Men’s Mid Amateur has won the 2023 title and his place on the Neil Woodbury Trophy. With a one shot lead going into the 3rd and final round recently, it was arguably matchplay against Richard Wright (Matamata) along with Matt Cormack (Remuera) who was 5 places back overnight.
Hayden held his nerve and despite 3 bogies on the front nine, also carded 3 birdies to turn all square. Richard also turned square with the card. The players traded the lead spot on the opening holes of the back nine but then bogies on the 17th and 18th, where Hayden birded and made par respectively, the win with a 3 shot-margin was his. Hayden’s three rounds 67, 68 and 72.
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Matt Cormack carded an even 72 round and come in 3rd place with an overall score of 212. One shot back was Brad Winger from Remuera (213) with another local Simon Wright in 5th place - total of 217.
Best nett was awarded to Robert Greer (Paraparaumu) and the Stableford winner Justin Margan, yet another local from Omanu.
2021 winner Hitomi Nishio from Ttirangi - with an 11 shot lead going into her final round ended up with a ‘fright’ after a serious chase by Angela Gerken (Timaru) who shot the women’s best round of the day , a-one over par, 73.
Angela, despite the challenge eventually lost by one shot.
Hitomi’s rounds 73 and 69 with an ‘out of character’ 81 today, total 223 - vs Angela’s steady 76, 75, 73 - and a finish with 224. What could have been for the Aorangi representative?
3rd place honours to Heather Keefe (Rotorua) who finished with 230, 4th place to Vaha Fabiano (North Shore), 4 shots back on 234.
Best nett for the women was awarded to Shelley McElroy (Rotorua) with the top Stableford prize claimed by April Everitt (Omaha).
Final accolades must be given to Tracy Bary, in contention overnight, reflecting on her round released she had miscounted one hole. Long after scores had been posted. Sadly that meant a DQ for her. Golf, a sport that is largely self-policing, relies on players to be honest - top marks to Tracy for her honesty when realising she had simply counted wrong.
