Last weekend the 12th Recreational Services Masterton Eketahuna Pro Am was held with a capacity field and played in contrasting conditions with the Saturday at Eketahuna being hot and dry and the Sunday round at Masterton ‘copping’ the first rain for some time. The results of the pro competition, won by former Masterton member, Harry Bateman, have been widely published and he made mention of the advantage he had knowing his way around the course in his victory speech.
The amateurs who make up the bulk of the field and play a ‘best three of the four players’ stableford deserve a lot of exposure too. After the first day at Eketahuna the leader was the team of J Griffith and Co Ltd, consisting of Geoff McKay, Mike Falloon, Mike Southey and pro Troy Ropiha on 134 but the overnight leaders were ‘passed’ on the second day by the winners, BDO Bashers, made up of Rosie Gould, Sue Irving, Lola Ogg and pro Jared Pender.
Abbreviated results-
1st BDO Bashers 260
2nd J Griffith and Co 255
3rd K Consulting Ltd 252 (Innes Kennard, Murray Wolland, Nooroa Rota, Fraser Wilkin (P)
4th Pacific Hygiene 250 (Peter Kenny, Dave Cameron, Roger Allen, Charles Bolling (P)
5th PGG Wrightson 248
6th Pea Straw Man 243
7th Ekatahoons 240
8th Solway Butchery 240
There were numerous other prizes with a prize list down to 18th place and closest to the pins and longest drives, but the shootout on each course was won by Gary Bancroft at Eketahuna and Lawrence Aspinall at Masterton.
However the big winner was the organisation, superbly led by convenor Derek Clarkson. The major sponsor has already committed for 2016 so this showcase of Wairarapa golf will continue.
The weekend was also the first week of the Otaki Cup, the Wellington Golf men’s Div 1 interclub and, because of the clash with the Pro Am, Masterton had to field a ‘makeshift’ team against Royal Wellington at Paraparaumu. The 8½-6½ loss was a great result- singles wins were recorded by Kerry Mountcastle, Sam Forrester and Owen Lloyd. Strangely enough the next round, which was to have been played next week at Royal Wellington, has been postponed by Wellington Golf!
On Monday the first round of the women’s Pennants competition took place. The Div 1 Manuka team played Otaki at Waikanae for a 5-4 win with wins to Nooroa Rota, Jo Lucas and Lusi Williams. The Div 1 Totara team had the advantage of the home course against Te Marua and recorded a good strong 7½-1½ win with points to Chris Lewis, Jo Philps, Jan Williams and Roselee Thurston. We have two teams in Div 2 too and the Kowhai team played Otaki at Paraparaumu for a 1½-4½ loss with Margaret Irwin having a victory. The Matai team played at Royal Wellington but no results are available.
TRC Toyota Twilight attracted 35 players on a beautiful evening for golf. Lorraine Stewart continued her consistent form and won the women’s division with the evening high of 22 points. Jeff Thomas won the men’s with 21 points. Alan Williams and Janna Blundell pushed out the Wairarapa Funeral Homes Longest Drives and one of the youngest in the field, Mitchell Hooper, put the ball closest to the pin to win the All Teed Up Golf Ball. To cap off a wonderful nights sport, Vic Jacobsen had his card drawn from the pool to win the bottle of Matahiwi Estate Pinot Noir.
The TRC Toyota 500 Teams event is reaching a climax. This team’s event celebrates the first four-man team to accumulate 500 stableford points in the season and currently the top two teams are separated by just eight points on 420 and 412 respectively. With the best teams scoring in the 70s each week, this event will culminate in two weeks time.
On Tuesday the women’s field played a bisque bogey competition in warm but windy conditions. Results were-
Silver
1st Jan McLaren
2nd Jo Philps
Bronze
1st Anne Kenny
2nd Isobelle Weaver
The Graeme Jones Car Rental Nearest the pin was won by Carol Morgan and the new World No 18 by Carol Morgan. Next week is an LGU and Putting round and a shootout qualifier.
The New World Thursday competition saw some excellent scoring but the day was won by Jack Richmond with 42 points from Richard Searle, also with 42. Third were Alan Sadler and David Cook, both with 41. The All Teed Up Closest to the Pin was Ash Peterson. This Friday is Waitangi Day and the pro shop is running a tournament so get your discs/cards in by 11.45 for a 12 noon multi tee start.
The Saturday club day is a par round for men and a LGU and Putting round for women with both groups having a qualifier for the Moore Stephens Markham Shootout. Entries close on Sunday for the men’s Oldfield Trophy.
Off The Fairway
The club’s AGM will be held on Sunday 15 February at 10.30 in the 19th. All members are urged to attend. There is one vacancy to fill on the Board and a nomination sheet is on the board in the foyer.