[vc_row type=”vc_default” gap=”35″][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”April 23 & 24, 2022″ font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner gap=”35″][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”RECAP” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Some stunning late April weather met 70 players for the 2022 edition of the Trust House Wairarapa Open.
In the Senior Division, the early scoring matched the conditions with Masterton member Jeff Tuoro and 16-year-old Zac Swanwick (Napier) sharing low first-round honours shooting matching 65, Sam Marsters (Miramar) was one shot 1 back with 66 and two-time winner Jonno Cane (Shandon) signed for a 68.
Marsters equaled his morning round on Saturday afternoon to take the overnight lead on 10 under par. Tuoro and Swanwick again mirrored scores with 70 to both sit three shots off the lead at 7 under. With Cane shooting 72 and no one except ex-Wairarapa player Elton Nicholson (67) emerging from the pack, Sunday looked to be a three-horse race.
After slow starts from the leading group, there wasn’t much change at the top in the early going but with Marsters dropping shots on 7 and 8, his lead at the turn had shrunk to a shot on Tuoro and 2 on Swanwick. The 10th hole was a pivotal moment as Marsters hit his 2nd shot into the new subdivision and walked off the green with a double bogey, with Swanwick making bogey Tuoro found himself in the lead with a textbook par.
Tuoro capitalised on the moment by birding the tricky 11th to further his lead. Tuoro and Swanwick traded pars from the 12th to 16th holes. Swanwick birdied the 17th to cut into the lead and with Nicholson (67) and Cane (66) in the clubhouse at 7 under Tuoro had a 2 shot lead over a now trio of players teeing off the 18th. Tuoro’s drive found the right trees which left him having to punch out towards the 1st hole leaving a difficult lie and distance left under the circumstances, as the spectators built Tuoro left his best for last making an extremely challenging shot look easy by hitting his approach to a foot which was met with rapturous applause from the home crowd. The tap-in birdie gave Tuoro a three-shot victory over Cane, Nicholson, and Swanwick and capped off a flawless weekend of golf which included playing the last 15 holes on Sunday 4 under par.
The popular win was Tuoro’s second Wairarapa Open title 10 years after his first victory.
In the Intermediate Division, another tight Sunday battle was taking place. As the overnight leaders faltered, local member Recce Hannam and Napier-based Cordell Henare, both playing in their first Wairarapa Open, emerged as the two contenders. Both played some quality golf down the closing stretch but with 13-year-old Henare playing his last 12 holes 1 over par his final round 74 gave him a one-shot victory over Hannam.
Locals, Luke Lange and Jeff Ogg finished in the Top 10 with Lange, another 13 year old putting up a great showing in the first of many Wairarapa Opens for him
The Women’s Division ended up being another close competition with Palmerston North visitor Casey Chettleberg leading all the way courtesy of an opening-round 72 to beat Jackie Jang (Remuera) by 3 shots. Jang made it interesting on Sunday with a closing round 72 but Chettleberg played holes 14 to 17 two under par to be able to walk down 18 with the title all but wrapped up. Local Serena Phillips took out the best Nett prize for the weekend
A huge thanks to Tournament Director Joel Macklin for all of his help over the weekend and to Brian Grant, Murray Wolland, Carl Christensen, and Murray Schofield for volunteering their time to assist with the leaderboards, spotting, and starting.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”TROPHY WINNERS” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]
- Wairarapa Open – Jeff Tuoro 203
- Percy Cup (Overall Net) – Jeff Tuoro 203
- Hugo Cup (Best Saturday Score) – Jeff Tuoro 65
- Rowntree/Hopkirk Cup (Women’s Overall) – Casey Chettleberg 225
- Intermediate Cup – Cordell Henare 240
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”35px”][vc_custom_heading text=”GALLERY” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text][modula id=”526323″][/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”FULL RESULTS” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]