The women’s Moore Stephen’s Markham Shootout final was played last Tuesday in overcast and windy conditions but developed into a hard fought battle with seven chip outs overall. Lorraine Stewart bowed out on the 17th leaving Jeanette McNae and Carolyn Stevenson to battle it out on the 18th hole. Both players had a regulation net 5 so a chip out was held from the bank at the back of the green and Carolyn Stevenson emerged the winner.
The men’s Moore Stephen’s Markham Shootout final was held on Sunday in magnificent weather and, apart from a few holes where a player had a ‘big blowout,’ was a very tight affair with excellent golf played, for example on No 9 the 11 players left had 9 gross par’s and two ‘one over’s.’ Simon Buckley, who had survived seven chip outs departed on 16 when he was the only player not getting a shot, Murray Wolland was eliminated in a chip out with Dennis Hogg on 17 leaving Mike Dixon and Dennis to play the last hole. Both players had pars and in the resulting chip out Dennis’ short game came to the fore and he was the worthy winner.
The vets have played twice in the last week. Last Wednesday, in a stableford round, results were-
Women
1st Gail Freemen 25
2nd Isobelle Weaver 23
3rd Beryl Stewart 22
Men Group 1
1st Bob Macfarlane 26
2nd Alex Tulloch 26
3rd George Gray 25
Men Group 2
1st Brian Henson 30
2nd Keith Nelson 25
3rd Rex Fowler 24
In the last vets event of the year a large field played an ambrose competition. Results were-
1st Jill Chandler, George Grantham, Brian Henson, Alan Kirkham 35pts
2nd Helen Falloon, Alan Sadler, David baker, Peter Cameron 34
3rd Pam Ward, Derek Bamford, Keith Nelson, John Tatham 32
In a slight variation the men’s longest drives were awarded by age and Alan Sadler won the men 75+ and Peter Smith the men 75-. The women’s longest drive was Helen Falloon. The Fagan Ford Nearest the pin went to Peter Cameron and the 9 hole putting to Ian Hull Brown.
The main office bearers for the vets remain the same for next year and the 2015 organised programme will resume on 26 January.
On Saturday there were two separate competitions, the first round of the men’s Summer Cup and the BMW Golf Challenge where two tickets to the NZ Open at The Hills were ‘up for grabs’. Jamie Brunton made no race of this with a blistering net 63. Results were-
Men
1st Jamie Brunton 63 net
2nd Sila Faaiuaso 65
3rd John Francis 65
4th Carl Christensen 66
Women
1st Chris Lewis 72
The All Teed Up Nearest the Pin’s were won by Jamie Brunton and Nooroa Rota and the All Teed Up No 18 to Carl Christensen. Jamie Brunton also won the birdsnest.
The Thursday New World competition saw some good scoring with Carl Christensen winning with 41 points from Murray Wolland and Jack Richmond, both with 40, and Jeff Ogg and Darryl Hart with 39. The All Teed Up nearest the Pin was Jeff Ogg.
In the TRC Toyota Twilight a big turnout saw Alan Williams and Jo Lucas take out the two top prizes, both with 22 points from Dennis Hogg and Jan Tatham, both on 21. The Wairarapa Funeral Services Longest Drive’s were awarded to harry Quinn and Jocelyn Pollock and Dennis Hogg won the All Teed Up Nearest the Pin. This week the Matahiwi Estate Challenge was awarded to the player showing the most improvement from the previous week and Dominic Stewart’s 12 point improvement saw him the easy winner.
Congratulations to Pam Griffith who has just been elected the new women’s match captain making this her second stint at the job and to Joel Macklin who, this week, graduated at Jacks Point as a full professional after three years of hard work as a trainee.
This Thursday the men play for the last trophy to be decided this year, the John Whitehead Cup, the only trophy for Thursday golf.
For those members who are looking for a game of golf over the holiday period the club continues to offer competitions to players. The Thursday New World competition with continue with anyone wanting to play making their own fours and teeing off by about 12 noon. The men’s Saturday competition will also continue and play for the Summer Cup, a net competition with your best 3 scores over the Saturdays between now and the end of January. Just turn up before 12 noon and make up your own fours. The women also continue over the holidays with Jocelyn Pollock organising a casual women’s competition every Tuesday and Friday, tee off at 9am, and lastly the vets group also have a keen group who continue to play on Monday’s.
Off The Fairway
As this is the last Sports Report for 2014 may I wish all members and readers a very restful Christmas and a Happy New Year (and lots of golf!). If you are away don’t forget our members have reciprocal rights at Hokowhiti, Boulcott Farm, Whangaparoa, Pakuranga, Murawai and half green fees at Maraenui- just ring before you turn up. See you again at the end of January, just before the Pro Am.