Compton Pikari struck double success at the Mount Maunganui Golf Club over the weekend, walking away with two titles.
The young Te Awamutu golfer teamed up with Mount player Bailey Smith to win the New Zealand Men's Foursomes Championships played over 36 holes on Friday, before taking out the highly prestigious Grant Clements Memorial Tournament over the weekend. It was the 13th time the 72 hole strokeplay event had been held at Mount Maunganui and was sponsored by Ssangyoung and Sheaff Motors.
Pikari shot a sizzling 66 in his third round to jump out to a four shot lead from Nelson's Ryan Chisnall heading into the final 18 holes, and he looked to be cruising to victory with a five shot lead with five holes to play. But two bogies against a birdie run by Chisnall cut his lead to two as the players walked to the 18th tee.
Chisnall's tee shot hit the trees and bounced back into the middle of the fairway and he put the heat on with a superb wedge to within six metres of the pin, but Pikari kept his nerve to also play a fine shot to the green. Chisnall needed to drop his putt to have any chance but he missed giving Pikari three puts to win - which he needed as he missed a downhill tiddler to add some late drama.
Pikari was especially pleased with how well he played in the third round when his 66 essentially won him the tournament.