While the Maunsell Trophy may not be quite the oldest competition staged by the Masterton Golf Club the actual trophy must surely be one the oldest offered by any golf club in New Zealand.
The award itself is an old fashioned type of three wood, known as a Baffy which was donated to the club in 1952 by the late Ted Maunsell. The club was once owned by the great Scottish golfer Willie Auchterlonie, who won the Open in 1892, although probably not with the club on display above the trophy cabinets in the club house foyer. It was made about 1870 by David Anderson, one of the founders of the famous golf manufacturing firm, Robert Forgan Limited. For the record the first winner of the Maunsell Trophy, in 1953, was Greg Jones, Graeme’s father.
On Saturday the final, a par round, of the 2016 Maunsell Trophy was played, after the stroke qualifying round had been played a fortnight earlier.
The top qualifiers were Ray Verhaart, Joe Tuoro and Simon Buckley but they were nowhere in sight on Saturday with Paul E Williams winning the trophy with +5, and a host of golfers on +!. Saturday’s club results were-
Men
1st Paul Williams +5
2nd Paul Fouhy +2 (had not qualified for Maunsell)
3rd Bill Sangster +1
4th Gavin Harris +1
Women (stableford)
1st Pam Griffith 30
The All Teed Up Nearest the Pin was Dennis Hogg and No 18, Simon Buckley.
The polar blast that ‘hit’ at the end of last week impacted on the women’s Greensome Foursomes and this event was postponed. The New World Supermarket Thursday stableford was also affected with only 6 hardy men playing the round amid a 10-minute snow flurry and two large hail showers. The best round of the group was a 78 from David Cook.
On Tuesday the women played an LGU and Putting round. Results were-
Silver
1st Nooroa Rota 72 nett
2nd Brenda Blatchford 74
3rd Marilyn Strang 76
Bronze A
1st Jane Williams 72 nett
2nd Janna Blundell 78
3rd Jocelyn Pollock 78
Bronze B
1st Janice Hayes 75 nett
2nd Marilyn Beetham 80
3rd Anne Smith 80
The putting competition was won by Jane Williams with 25 putts.
The Quilters Lane Nearest the pin went to Janna Blundell and No 18 to Sereana Phillipps.
The Wednesday 9 holers had a stroke round which was won by Barbie Wallace on 33, with daylight second and Kate Bunny and Di Herbert tied on 38 next. The PGG Wrightson Longest Drive was Di Herbert.
On Monday the vets played a stableford round. Results were-
Men Group 1
1st Mick Gates 28
2nd Alan Kirkham 24
3rd Murray Wolland 23
Men Group 2
1st Mack Martyn 26
2nd Alex McLeod 25
3rd Derek Bamford 24
Women
1st Shirley King 26
2nd Sue Blathwayt 24
3rd Venetta Justice 20
The Fagan Ford Nearest the Pins were Sue Blathwayt and Alan Kirkham.
This Friday the course will be closed for the Hospice Wairarapa Ambrose Golf Tournament which has a 10am registration and a shotgun start at 11am. There are still a few places in the field so enter your team of 4 at Hospice Wairarapa Ph 3788888.
This Saturday the men will play for the Jameson Cup, a 4BBB Par 18 hole competition and the women will have an LGU round.
The entry sheets for the men’s club matchplay championships are up in the clubhouse.