NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGIONS

NORTHLAND

NORTHLAND GOLF - WOMAN’S NATIONAL TEAMS DAY

The winner for the day was Ngunguru Golf Club with 137 played recently Waitangi Golf Club Paihia and the The Pro Shop Waitangi for hosting the woman’s national teams day.

The winner for the day was Ngunguru Golf Club with 137.

Played in some tough conditions. However, the winners for the day were Ngunguru Golf Club with 137.

2nd Wellsford Golf Club - NZ 141

3rd Waipu Golf Club 145

5th Waitangi Golf Club Paihia 146

5th Northland Golf Club 146

6th Bay of Islands Golf Club - Kerikeri

148

8th Northern Wairoa Golf Club 149

8th Whangaroa Golf Club 149

9th Mangawhai Golf Club 150

10th Sherwood Park Golf Club 156

NORTH HARBOUR

HARBOUR GOLF PENNANT RESULTS

North Shore Golf Club Woman’s Weekend team won the section one division played recently at Helensville Golf Club.

WAIKATO

WALTON TAKE OUT DIVISION 2 AND DIVISION 3 OF THE WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP PENNANTS

SERIES 2023

Tieke Golf Estate was the venue for the final round of the 2023 Women’s Championship Pennnants. The Walton 1 team, featuring in Division 2, were in a race against 2nd place finishers, Waitomo. Both teams finished with an impressive 8 out of 10 match points however the Walton 1 girls tallied up a healthy 33 games points going in to the final round which meant Waitomo needed to win all 12 game points and hope that Walton 1 didn’t play as strongly as they had in prior rounds. This was not to be the case and Walton 1 wins Division 2!

The Walton 2 team seem to find an easier pace of play within their Division 3. 2nd place finishers, North Waikato 2, having no chance of winning as Walton 2 had a clear 2 match point lead going into the final round.

North Waikato Mixed Team

WINS THE 2023 WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP PENNANTS SERIES

North Waikato Pic L-R: M. Archer, A. Shaw, J. Storey, C. Sattler & G Periam. Waikato Golf’s 2023 Women’s Championship Pennants winning mixed team, North Waikato. Members Jan Storey (Waiterimu) Alana Shaw (Waiterimu), Celeste Sattler (Piopio Aria) & Michelle Archer (Waikare) won their final round against Cambridge taking 7 of the 12 games points to finish a clear 3 points in front of 2nd place team Hamilton 1. These ladies finshed with an impressive 4-1 record.

BAY OF PLENTY

OPOTIKI GOLF CLUB HAVE HAD A PENNANT SEASON TO REMEMBER Opotiki Golf Club have had a pennant season to remember, taking out both the Women’s Championship and Association place on Monday, 8 May, at Te Puke Golf Club. The 18-hole side finished in a tie with Hauraki on a 387 total, meaning a playoff was needed to separate the two clubs. Lenda Pimm prevailed, claiming Opotiki’s second women’s pennants title this year.

Pennant competitions for the first time in the club’s history.

The 9-hole competition wasn’t as close as Paeroa won by 10 shots after some excellent scoring in challenging cool and wet conditions.

MANAWATU-WHANGANUI

Results From Rangitikei Golf Club

Twos: Alan Wix, Garry Edwards - 3rd, Joe Yorke - 12th, Geoff Ingram & Kelvin Burt - 16th.

Best Stableford on 16, 17 & 18 - Chris Duffy & Varina Mitchell 8pts.

Results from Rangitikei Golf Club: Saturday 20th May - Comp Medal.

Seniors: Geoff Ingram nett 72, Pete Masters nett 73, Alan Wix & Sean Khov nett 74, Roger Perkins nett 75, & by lot Ron Harris nett 78.

Juniors:

Dan Scotson nett 69, Scott Ewens net 70, Anna Cullen nett 73, Wendal Masters nett 74, & Mathew Cullen nett 77.

Saturday 13th March - Comp PAR:

Seniors:

The team of Shaynee Biddle-Tai, Stevee Biddle-Tai, Waimanawa Robinson, Polly White, Sandra Tiopira, and Rita Maxwell Opotiki has only been a part of the Bay of Plenty women’s pennant competition for two years. The club’s future looks bright, with three juniors making up the top three positions in their Silver Championship team.

The team of Shaynee Biddle-Tai, Stevee Biddle-Tai, Waimanawa Robinson, Polly White, Sandra Tiopira, and Rita Maxwell showed that the sky is the limit for the young side as they’ve come together as a team, displaying incredible team spirit and club culture. They beat Omanu in their final on Sunday, 7 May, 6 – 3 after being up 3 – 0 after the morning’s foursomes.

The Association Pennant final took

18 Hole

1st Opotiki 387

2nd Hauraki 387

3rd Tairua 406

4th Omanu 411

5th Kinloch 414

9 Hole

1st Paeroa 104

2nd Rotorua 114

3rd = Tauranga & Mercury Bay 117

5th Whakatane 121

Kelvin Burt +2, Sean Khov +1, Liz Kinloch & Graeme Stephens -1, Alan Wix - 2, & Jill Hall -3.

Juniors:

Chris Duffy sq, Varina Mitchell & Cynthia Luckham -2, Richard Holden -4, Kevin Taylor -5, Tania Hurpur & Stew de Burgh -6.

Twos: Ken Boyle - 3rd.

Closest to Pin on 16th - Kelvin Burt.

Lucky Draw: Lynne McDonald

Results from Rangitikei Golf Club: Wednesday 17th May - Comp Stableford:

Varina Mitchell 38pts, Karen Yorke & Neville Berendt 36pts, Kelvin Burt 35pts, Joe Yorke 34pts, Lynne McDonald & Geoff Ingram 33pts, Dave Fitzpatrick, Wallace Miller, Edith Leary, Noel Crocker, Russell Kane, Alan Wix, & Dan Scotson.

Nearest the Pin on 12th: Graeme Stephens

Lucky Drawer: Stella Berendt.

Manawatu Whanganui Stroke

Play Champions

Ryan Rooney and Emma Zheng emerged as the Manawatu Wanganui Stroke Play champions after a rain-affected weekend at Marton Golf Club.

Ryan Rooney.

Despite the final round being cancelled due to inclement weather, both players secured their victories through outstanding performances in the preceding rounds.

Ryan Rooney, the current number one for Manawatu Wanganui, dominated in an impressive display of golf in less-thanideal conditions. His rounds of 67 and 68, finishing eight-under-par, were good enough to secure a four-shot victory over his closest competitor, Taranaki’s Jack Van Prehn.

Rooney was shot behind the in-form Zack Swanwick after the opening round following a sizzling 66 from the Napier Golf Club member. Unfortunately, he fired 77 in the second round, dropping him into a share of fourth place behind Cooper Moore, who wrapped up third.

Emma Zheng delivered a solid performance in the women’s event, finishing with rounds of 71 and 69 to be four-under-par. Her steady and consistent play led her to claim the victory by a two-shot margin over Auckland’s Rianne Li, with BOP’s Hunter Edward’s and Manawatu Wanganui number one, Tara Raj, finishing in a share of third at one-under-par.

MANAWATU WANGANUI MONDAY

PENNANT FINAL with the greens running very true at a good speed.

Marton hosted the final as scheduled at the beginning of the year and after the previous semi-final at Manawatu it was Rangatira Pink playing off against Marton.

The slightly different format of two divisions of six teams playing round robin followed by the addition of a cross over semi-final and then a final allowed for extra golf to be played by all teams.

In the Kaikoura Cup a change of format from previous years saw the number of clubs and players rise from 4 clubs and 24 players to 7 clubs, 9 teams and 36 players playing each week. After leading from week 1 and getting out to a 23 shot lead after 3 rounds Rangiora Green entered the last round with a 5 shot lead over Amberley. Amberley came home strong to end up winning the Kaikoura Cup by 9 shots from Rangiora Green who finished second with Amuri third.

Amberley also had the lead in Gardner

Cup leading into Sunday by 11 shots over Kaiapoi and increased the difference to 17 shots to take the Kaikoura / Gardner Cup double. Kaiapoi finished second and Pegasus White third.

The Individual Trophy Winners were:

Best Gross Senior - Will Bastings (Amuri)

Best Gross Master - Kevin Jones (Rangiora Green)

Best Gross Junior - Ed Dickinson (Rangiora Red)

Best Net Senior - Pete McAllister (Kaiapoi)

Best Net Masters - Pete McAllister

Best Net Junior - Ed Dickinson

There were some closely contested matches, but Marton came through 5 – 3 to win the Shield and Pennant for 2023.

The final rankings;

Marton, Rangatira Pink, Rangatira Blue, Manawatu, Feilding 2, Wanganui, Eketahuna, Pahiatua, Levin, Palmerston North, Castlecliff and Feilding 1.

Canterbury

KAIKOURA, GARDNER & TEMPLETON CUPS FINALS DAY

The Kaikoura Cup / Gardner Cup Final Round and Templeton Cup Final were played recently.

Players made their way to Waimakariri Gorge and were meant with a cool, crisp day and a few drops of rain prior to tee off threatened, but nothing came of it. The course was beautifully presented

The Templeton Cup Final was an all Pegasus affair which went down to the wire with three matches decided on the final green. Pegasus Black registered the first point on the board thanks to a 7&6 win to Grant Townley over Royce Ellis. This was soon balanced with another 7&6 win to Mike Clapham over Jason Gwatkin in the battle of the #1 and team captains. The battle at #2 between 17yr old Tyler Gwatkin who started the year at #5 playing off a 18.7 now in to 8.5 and John Woods went down the last with Tyler winning 2 up. Cam Waghorn and Jamie Buchan also had a close match with Cam winning 2&1 to make it 2 all. At #5 Andy Jones had a 3&2 win over Blake Buchan to put Gold up 3 – 2, the battle of the #6’s had 14yr old Josh Gwatkin who started the year on a 28 handicap now into 15.8 playing against Tom Hobson, Tyler was 4 down with 7 to play but managed to take it down the last for Tom to make a good putt and take the win.

RUSSLEY - WEEKEND TEAM BALL INTERCLUB CHAMPIONS

The Final of the Women’s Weekend Team Ball Interclub competition between Avondale and Russley was played at Bottle Lake recently in wintery weather and the autumn conditions making matches challenging for both players and rules officials.

It was the Russley team of, from left Di Stayt, Carolyn Bleach, Chris Erikson, Bridget Hoffman and Sandra Gover who upset the top seed and prevailed 4.5-1.5 over Avondale’s Jaimee Leach, Rhonda Hira, Pip Lloyd and Kara Campbell.

From left Di Stayt, Carolyn Bleach, Chris Erikson, Bridget Hoffman and Sandra Gover.

The Semi-Finals of the Women’s Weekend competition were also played at Bottle Lake yesterday with Pegasus Blue defeating McLeans Island 3-1 and Rangiora 1 defeating Clearwater 2.5-1.5 to set up the Final at Russley on 21 May.

CLEARWATER WOMEN’S SILVER INTERCLUB CHAMPIONS

The Final of the Women’s 18 Hole Silver Interclub competition was played at Harewood Golf Club recently in cool, misty conditions for the best part of the round with the course in great order.

It was always going to be a tight contest between the top seeds from round-robin play, only separated by 3.5 games over the 9 round competition. With Russley defeating Clearwater in round-robin play early in the competition, both teams would have had contrasting motivation leading into the final. As expected the result went down to the wire with all four matches going down the 18th before the result was decided on the last putt of the day, nerve racking for all concerned.

From left, Jo Carolan, Nicky Wright, Lynda Vieceli, Julie Battersby, Justine Sheppard, Anita Bateman, Liz Signal (Manager). Other absent squad members who also played during the season were Philippa Cooke, Deb Harvey and Virginia Faass.

It was the Clearwater team who managed to hold their nerve and get across the line to be crowned Silver Interclub Champions.

Everglades Country Golf Club

Location: 637Marshland Road, Ouruhia, Christchurch 8083, New Zealand

The Everglades Country Golf Club is a 9-Hole course established in 1967 and is located 20 minutes north of central Christchurch. The course is bordered by the Kaputone stream on two sides of the course and is a straightforward layout. The challenge is to negotiate the tree lined fairways and relatively small greens. The club operates a full winter and summer programme of competitive and social golf for both men and women. Playing groups are varied weekly to encourage getting to know fellow members in a relaxed friendly atmosphere. All club days are run as a shotgun start to allow for a collective finish after play.

Men’s NZSCR 63, Ladies NZSCR 67 New members welcome in the following categories:

Full, 9 Holes, Midweek, and Juniors membership.

There is also an Associate membership which provides players with a handicap. Associate members pay green fees. Club Days

Saturday club day Men & Ladies starting times as follows :

10.30 am – Putting competition option, all cards in by 10.45 am

11 am tee off Match of the Day

The course is closed on Saturdays to green fee players from 10.30pm to 3pm.

Tuesday Ladies 18 holes cards in by 9.30 am for 9.45 am tee off .

Tuesday ladies 9 holes cards in by 9.30 am tee off 10am.

The course is closed Tuesdays to green fee players from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Wednesday Men: 10.30 am putting competition option, all cards in by 10.45am, 11am tee off Match of the Day (course open to green fee players)

Twilight Golf: Thursday during daylight saving hours, tee off between 4pm to 5.15 pm visitors welcome.

Further details please contact Clubhouse (03) 3238641

Email: evergladescgc@xtra.co.nz

Postal Address: 142 Riverlea Estate Drive, Stewarts Gully 8083 Green fee players welcome. Green fees 9 holes $10.00 pay for 5 games get the 6th game free.

OTAGO/SOUTHLAND

SOUTHLAND GOLF - MATARUA GOLF CLUB WINNERS

The Mataura Golf Club is celebrating two days of success at the local pennant finals held at Gore Golf Club recently.

Saturday saw the conclusion of the Men’s Vice President and Women’s Weekend Pennant finals held at Gore Golf Club. Heavy midweek rain across the district made going tough for the morning semi-final matches.

With five teams represented across the finals, Mataura had high expectations of success, looking to secure at least one flag for 2023.

MLT Vice President Men’s Finals

Mataura had reason to be confident coming up against Greenacres in the first semi-final after heading into the weekend as the top seed after the round-robin. Greenacre’s top pairing of Matt Tautari and Ollie Piggott had other plans posting big wins for their team early, putting the pressure back on the Mataura tail to fire. Adam Newton (Mataura) was the next match finished, getting the top seeds on the scorecard, which left the tie evenly poised, with the remaining games all looking like going the distance.

Wins on the final holes for Wayne Hunt and Nathan Piggott and a half for Stu Coburn resulted in a comfortable win for Greenacres and a place in the afternoon final against the winner of the matches unfolding on the other side of the course.

Invercargill GC always held the upper hand against Queens Park in the second semi-final. Chris McMillian, Murray Paterson, Dan O’Conner, and Tony Clay all posted early wins before Liam Balneaves finished the tie-off with a 3/2 win over Liam Hewitt. Park’s Daniel Kelliher picked up his side’s only win in what ended up being a one-sided encounter.

The afternoon final, a rematch of the final round-robin match that ended in a hard-fought draw between Invercargill and Greenacres, was set to be a battle of attrition as the drizzle continued to soften the course.

Invercargill came out from lunch with more than just food in their bellies, firing up to put their noses in front early. Liam Balneaves continued his top form, accounting for Matt Tautari 6/5 to complete his series with only one defeat against Tautari in the earlier rounds. Tony Clay and Murray Paterson then put one hand on the trophy for Invercargill with wins over Nathan Piggott and Stu Coburn, meaning the remaining three games all had to fall in Greenacre’s favour to force a playoff. Chris McMillian (Invercargill) did enough to win 2/1 over Wayne Hunt to effectively end the tie and give Invercargill its first Vice President title in five years. Garry Tucker and teenager Ollie Piggott finished with wins for a gallant Greenacres side.

Mataura made amends for their semi-final defeat by beating Queens Park 5-1 in the playoff match to secure the third position.

MLT Women’s Weekend Finals

It was a case of which, if any, Mataura team would make the final of the inaugural Women’s Weekend pennant semi-finals.

Mataura had two teams qualify for the semi-finals, a fantastic effort for the small eastern Southland club. Mataura 1 qualified top in their division and took on the Gilmour Rosebowl holders Waikaka in the first semi-final.

It was the Waikaka team that gained the early momentum with wins to Fayeanne Lamb and Deborah Aynsley-Hunt, putting all the pressure onto Mataura’s leading pair of Teena McColl and Raha Borlase to register victories to secure the finals spot on countback. Borlase obliged with a 4/3 win over Sharon Irwin, leaving it to the final match to decide the first finalist. The drama intensified as Janis Steel (Waikaka) and Teena McColl (Mataura) were all square playing the last hole, with McColl needing a win to secure her team’s progression to the final. Steel’s double bogey six allowed McColl to secure the victory with a bogey or better, which she duly accepted, advancing Mataura to the final.

The second semi-final between Invercargill and Mataura Mates was also a close-fought contest. Invercargill had led the way throughout the round-robin matches amassing the best record of all fifteen teams.

Mataura Mates earned their semi-final spot courtesy of the highest-finishing runner-up in pool play.

Invercargill number one Olivia Frost continued her fine form beating Matau- ra’s Andrea Russell 5/3, getting the town team off to a great start. Sam Walker (Mataura) soon had the scores level with an equally impressive win over Janet Anderson. Val Ross (Mataura) was the next one to secure a 3/2 win leaving the tie on the line for Raewyn Hartley (Invercargill) and Annette Thompson (Mataura) to decide. Thompson secured the victory heading into their final hole 1UP, only requiring a half to advance her team to the final.

So it was down to Mataura Mates v Mataura 1 to decide the winners of the inaugural Womens Weekend Pennantsfor 2023.

Mataura Mates got off to a hot start, Christine Tamou and Nikki Clark avenging their morning defeats to post comfortable wins. Fading light then became an issue for the remaining matches, with Mataura Mates requiring an outright win to secure the banner, requiring at least one victory still out on the course. Raha Borlase was ahead early against Sam Walker, but a spirited fightback from Walker pushed the match to the wire, with Borlase eventually holding on for the win and her team’s prized victory.

Invercargill finished in third spot defeating Waikaka 2.5-1.5 in the playoff match.

MLT Men’s Handicap Pennants Final Sunday presented much better conditions for the fifteen teams battling it out for the MLT Handicap pennant finals, with cool temperatures and sunshine greeting the players at Gore Golf Club.

Heading to the finals, several teams staked claims for this year’s trophy. Defending Champions Dipton came to the finals after leading their division all Summer and were hoping to repeat their 2022 efforts in familiar surroundings. Riversdale, Mataura, and hosts Gore all had two teams in the final action increasing the odds of a local club lifting the flag for 2023.

As play got underway, it was soon apparent that this year’s final would come down to one or two individual performances. The soft fairways on the undulating course emphasized clean ball striking and accuracy off the tee, while the receptive green surfaces allowed all players to score low if they could find the smooth putting surfaces in regulation.

Doug Clark (Mataura) led the scoring with a nett 65, followed by teammate Adam Newton with a 66. These scores gave the Mataura Club a healthy lead in the best three of four aggregate scores. Host club Gore led by Kory Davis and Graham Waddall, both posting nett 70s, had them sitting in the clubhouse on a total of 215 after Paul Hurley added a counting score of 75.

Mataura, however, were not to be denied their second flag of the weekend when team captain John Dickie came in with a nett 76 to add to the team aggregate of 207, giving the small eastern club double the reason to celebrate a successful weekend at Gore Golf Club.

Geraldine Has Won The Aorangi National Teams District Final

Geraldine has won the Aorangi National Teams district final which was played at Pleasant Point golf club on Friday 12th May.

Eleven clubs competed in the four ball best ball competition, with two pairs representing each club.

The Geraldine team of Denise Kenny and Raewyn Davies (net 68) and Joanne Gallichan and Jenny Kellahan (net 69) won with a combined four ball score of 137. They won on countback from Pleasant Points team of Rose Allison and Judy Hamer (net 66) and Angela Curry and Shelly Flintoft (71 net) also 137. 3rd Ashburton, Pauline Bell and Marilyn Walker (66), and Hilary Ward and Lynn Small (72),138. Gleniti, Jenny Austin and Nic O’Driscoll (69) and Carole Brand and Jan Gibbs (70),139. Methven, Robbie Maw and Sharon Burrell-Smith (72), and Heather Santy and Ruth Smith (68) 140. Fairlie, Marie Anderson and Lyn Dobson (69) and Denise Biggs and Shelley Dobson (71) 140

The Annual Clash Between Aorangi And Otago Was Played Recently At Waimate Golf Club

The annual clash between Aorangi and Otago was played recently at Waimate Golf Club.

Two divisions of teams competed when the Junior side, comprised of six players each, competed for the Piper Cup, whilst the Men’s Masters side, comprised of eight players, competed for the Taj Cup in 36 holes of action.

Proceedings kicked off at 9.30am with foursomes being played between the two formidable sides. The morning saw the foursomes shared between both the

Juniors and Men’s Masters sides, making the bookies’ job difficult in trying to predict a winner. For Otago, Ken Shaw/ Tayne Derriman and the pairing of Blair Bennett/Kevin Clark put the points on the board, whilst Aorangi’s aces Nigel Heney/ Dan Perham as well as the pairing of Stephen Waby/Andrew Peck registered the points for the men in green. The Juniors were just as tight with points shared at 1.5 each. For Otago Will Summersl/Maia Koni registered a win which was offset by a win to Aorangi’s Daniel Poulter/Lucas Histen. The final match between Kai Koni/Connor Howes and Mac Kelliher/ Seb McMillan finished in a halve and left a perfectly even setup heading into the afternoon singles.

Lunch was had and the competitors went back out shortly after to compete for singles results which would decide the day. For the juniors, Mac Kelliher, Seb McMillan and Lucas Histen all had wins for Aorangi whilst Lachlan Coutts, Will Summers and Maia Koni all had wins for Otago to level the ledger at 3 apiece for the singles and 4.5 apiece for the day. The juniors can be seen pictured below:

AORANGI GOLF - PENNANTS HOLMES AND HAYES CUPS

Aorangi men’s pennants was held recently at Gleniti Golf Club with both Holmes and Hayes Cups up for grabs. In the Holmes Cup, top-seeded Ashburton took on second-seeded Tinwald in a Mid-Canterbury duel. The match earlier in the year went the way of Ashburton and Tinwald was well aware of this heading into the day. A fast start was needed and that’s what Tinwald got, leading in three matches at the halfway point. Nigel Heney was the first to get points on the board after beating Jeff Hewitt on the 15th. Nigel and Dave King then polished off the fourball on the next and when Shane Moore won his match on the 17th, with the fourball, it was all done and dusted. Players finished out the remaining matches but the joy was apparent amongst the Tinwald team who waited seven years to lift the trophy again! Andrew Peck and Hamish Niles halved their match whilst Owen Miller got points on the board for Ashburton but ultimately Tinwald prevailed by a 7 - 3 margin.