Golf followers will be aware that Justin Rose has just won the first Olympic golf gold medal in 112 years when he won in Rio but what you probably don’t know is that someone (hopefully Lydia Ko) will end an even longer drought on the women’s side this week. American Margaret Abbott is the only woman to win an Olympic golf competition, doing so in 1900. Actually she didn’t win a gold medal as she was awarded a porcelain bowl for winning the 9-hole event. The women will play the same 18-hole course as the men, a par 71 layout of 5710 metres (men 6518 metres), and Lydia has been installed as a 3/1 favourite, ahead of Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn at 13/2.
There has been a bit more activity on the Masterton course this week with the weather being kinder.
On Wednesday the 9 holers played a PGG Wrightson stableford round which was won by Jane watts on 22 points from Beet Horrocks on 20, The PGG Wrightson Longest Drive and the All Teed Up Nearest the Pin both went to Beet Horrocks.
On 3 August a large group of 9 holers enjoyed a wonderful day at Riversdale Beach and played a ‘hidden holes’ competition with the best score recorded over 4 holes. Winners of the ‘special sweet’ prizes awarded on the day were Lindy Williamson and Jill Slight with Barbie Wallace third and Helen Ordish, fourth.
The vets have played twice. Last Wednesday they had a stableford round with a small field of only men. Results were-
Men Group 1
1st Murray Wolland 24
2nd Alan Kirkham 23
Men Group 2
1st Graeme Jones 27
2nd John Tatham 25
George Gray won the Fagan Ford Nearest the Pin.
On Monday, in different conditions 32 vets played another stableford round. Results were-
Women
1st Isobelle Weaver 21
2nd Sue Blathwayt 19
Men Group 1
1st Brian Pollock 25
2nd Carl Christensen 25
3rd Mick Gates 24
Men Group 2
1st Alex McLeod 27
2nd Bob Macfarlane 25
3rd Bill Reid 24
The Fagan Ford Nearest the Pins were Sue Blathwayt and Murray Wolland.
Last Thursday the New World Supermarket stableford competition attracted a surprisingly good field, considering the weather. The competition was won by Rob Irwin with 40 points from Trevor Smith on 39 and Simon Buckley on 38. The All Teed Up Nearest the Pin was Maraenui visitor, Joe Ropiha.
The very threatening weather on Saturday morning meant a decision to postpone the Hornabrook Cup until the following week was made, although the reasonable field that did play had a par round. Results were-
Men
1st Carl Christensen +6
2nd Ray Verhaart +2
3rd Rob Irwin +1
The All Teed Up Nearest the Pin on No 8 went to Murray Wolland, the women’s Alex McLeod No 8 to Nooroa Rota and the All Teed Up No 18 to Geoff Masters.
An interesting little snippet is that on Saturday Ray Verhaart had to play a Baker Fourball (4BBB) on his own when his partner was suddenly unavailable and he beat his two-man opposition!
The current points in the men’s Player of the Year Forrester Cup have been updated and are displayed on the men’s noticeboard. Simon Buckley leads with 130 points, followed by Ray Verhaart on 104 and Dean Gray on 103.
On Tuesday, in spring-like sunshine, the women’s field played a Home Pennants Stableford round. Results were-
Silver
1st Rachel Monk 36
2nd Chris Lewis 33
3rd Nooroa Rota 32
Bronze
1st Pam Griffith 34
2nd Jocelyn Pollock 34
3rd Larraine Duckett 33
The Quilters Lane Nearest the Pin on No 8 was Sereana Phillipps and New World No 18, Jeanette McNae.
This Saturday the men’s club field will play the postponed Hornabrook Cup, a par competition while on Sunday the annual Wainuioru School Ambrose tournament is on with a 9am registration and 10am tee off for teams of three.