Waikohu
Larry Green was the star as Waikohu enjoyed another successful New Zealand Māori Golf Association national tournament in Tāupo.
Green won the Masters overall Stableford title last week, adding it to the Masters men’s net crown he won at the 2023 tournament.
The Masters men and Golden Girls played at the Centennial and neighbouring Tauhara courses over four rounds.
Green set up his victory with rounds of 85 and 84 off a 20 at Centennial.
Waikohu’s women also had success in the Golden Girls’ division.
Audrey Tamanui-Nunn’s opening round of 106-41-65 put her on track to placing second in the stableford while Valerie Grace, who won the net in 2024, was third in the Stableford, highlighted by her 101-37-64 in the second round.
Back on home fairways, Grace continued her warm form in topping the women in round 1 of the Summer Cup with net 73.
Karauria Ruru’s 68 was best of the men.
SUNDAY – Summer Cup, round 1, men’s net: K. Ruru 68, L. Green 71, K. Tamanui 73, U. Chambers 78, I. Ruru 85.
Women’s net: V. Grace 73, C. Te Rito 76, E. Wynyard 78, M. Tuapawa 78, P. Rutene 81, Andrea Reeves 86.
COMING UP: SUNDAY, Summer Cup, round 2; SATURDAY, February 1, Waikohu open opening day, men’s and Canadian mixed pairs sections, 10am cuppa, 11.30am tee-off, inquiries to Audrey 0221772474 or Karauria 0274041752.
Patutahi
Shannon Toa loves the ‘Tahi.
The Electrinet Park member has played there three times this year and been in the money at each.
The latest was on Sunday when Toa won the division 1 men’s net with 73-8-65 – putting a four-shot distance between himself and the pack led by his son Beau (69).
Among the other 69ers was Dwayne Russell, who rattled off seven birdies in his 1-under 69 off a scratch handicap. Two double bogeys banished him to the chasers.
Division 2 scoring was hot enough to blister. Madison Murphy won with 87-24-63 on countback from Lucian Nickerson’s 85-22-63 with John Tietjen third with 92-27-65 – a quintuple bogey 9 on the fourth hole proving costly.
SUNDAY – Men’s net, division 1: S. Toa 65, Beau Toa 69, J. Phillips 69, P. Johnston 69, D. Russell 69, Blue Toa 70, A. Hindmarsh 70.
Division 2: M. Murphy 63, L. Nickerson 63, J. Tietjen 65, C. Harris 66, G. Holland 69 on c/b.
FRIDAY – Meat pack 9-hole Stableford, division 1: P. Molloy 21, A. Blakeman 21, P. Hokianga 20, S. Toa 19, G. Hawea 19 on c/b.
Division 2: P. Jex-Blake 22, T. Coutts 21, G. Maude 19, C. Harris 19, D. Tarry 19.
Women’s net: S. Gray 68.
Twos: D. Russell, M. Smith, G. Brown, L. Anania, A. Hindmarsh, P. Briant.
Poverty Bay
The low handicappers have a stranglehold on the Summer Cup men’s net series after three rounds.
Waka Donnelly’s 1-under par 71 off a +1 handicap in round 3 on Saturday has him comfortably leading the series.
Donnelly, whose round featured an eagle-3 on the fifth, has a three-round total of 211 (68, 71, 72), six shots ahead of 5-handicapper Stefan Andreassen (75, 72, 70) with 1-handicapper Simon Jeune third on 218 (73, 72, 73).
Matt Henwood fired one of the rounds of the year so far at the Awapuni Links last Thursday. Henwood won the division 1 men’s Stableford with a 2-under 70, which featured a birdie on the stroke 1-rated 15th and a bogey on the stroke 18-ranked sixth.
Stu Harbottle won division 2 with 81-12-69.
Andreassen had 15 pars and three bogeys in winning the division 1 Stableford on Saturday with 75-5-70, for 38 points.
Brian Read won division 2 with 99-29-70, for 38.
A couple of memorable eagles were recorded over the week.
Brent Colbert sank his 9-iron-hit second shot on the 351-metre 18th last Thursday. Ross Gibson holed his second on the 303m seventh hole on Sunday, having made birdie-2 the hole before. Brad Morgan slotted a lengthy eagle putt on the par-5 fifth, also on Sunday.
Darren Patumaka (division 1, 39pts) and Kurt Summersby (division 2, 38) were the Sunday winners.
WEDNESDAY (Jan 8) – Twilight Stableford, women’s division: L Haisman 20, W. Babbington 19.
Men’s division, back 9: A. McIntosh 19, D. Quinn 19, A. Nimmo 19.
Front 9: D. Williams 24, T. Amess 21, G. Middlemiss 20, B. Talbot 20, J. Ibbetson 20, G. Hannah 19, O. Aldridge 19.
COMING UP: Fulton Hogan Friday Ambrose Teams Series, February 14, 21, 28 and March 7, teams of four ambrose over six holes, shotgun start at 5.45pm, open to anyone including non-golfers, maximum handicap of 24 for non-golfers, includes barbecue and prizes each night, entry form available on Awapuni Links: Home of the Poverty Bay Golf Club Facebook page.
Electrinet Park
COMING UP: SUNDAY, Jan 26, She Loves Golf twilight finale, 9-hole competition, register at 12 noon for tee-off from 12.45pm, open to golfers and non-golfers, Stableford and net sections, approaches, long drives and spot prizes, for more information or to book a spot, text your name to Holly Miller at 0210545534.
Te Puia Hot Springs
Raana Walker and Hiria McClutchie are clear-cut leaders after two rounds of the Summer Cup series.
Walker was second in the men’s division on Sunday, but the two points he picked up for that extended his tally to five overall after he won round 1.
Dick Cook moved to second from the three points he got for winning the round 2 Stableford with 35 points
McClutchie won round 2 of the women’s section with 31 points and is sitting pretty on five points, three ahead of Robyn Ngatai and Aomihi Cook.
SUNDAY – Summer Cup, round 2, men’s stableford: D. Cook 38, R. Walker 35, M Devery 34.
Women’s Stableford: H McClutchie 31, A Cook 29, R. Ngatai 26.
Twos: D. Cook, N. Mackie.
Full Send
It’s a week out from “launch day” for the Full Send long drive and putting competition on the Awapuni Links course.
As of earlier this week, well over 60 entries had been received for the Friday, January 24, event featuring what organisers describe as “two epic comps” and “huge prizes”.
Tournament director Reece Witters is keen to see more entries for the junior and women’s divisions.
While the title Full Send refers to the long drive part of it, the putting competition has become just as big.
Three greens – the 18th, practice and fifth greens – have been designated for the putting competition, which will see the top qualifiers battle it out for top male and female overall.
The long drive competition features six divisions – junior boys and girls, open men and women, and 50-years plus men and women. It will be held in front of the practice putting green and trackman radar will be used to measure distances.
“But that’s not all,” Witters says. “This is going to be a night to remember at the club ... pizza (Italian food truck), bar open, music cranking, guaranteed laughs and good vibes all around.
“So start shredding for Full Send, get registered and don’t miss out on the action. Let’s make this a day to remember.”
To register ($20 entry) go to https://bit.ly/Full-Send-Entry.
