Tauranga golfer Andries Cloete is runner-up at NZ Seniors Champs

Tauranga golfer Andries Cloete was runner-up at the New Zealand Seniors Championship. PHOTO/Supplied

Andries Cloete pulled off a major surprise at the New Zealand Seniors Championship at Ohope on the weekend.

It was no surprise former New Zealand representative Brent Paterson comfortably won the New Zealand Seniors title at the beautiful Ohope links but Cloete finishing runner-up certainly raised a few eyebrows.

Cloete, 51, who holds joint membership at Omanu and Tauranga golf clubs, had rounds of 72, 68, 72 to claim second place as well as winning his age division.

He emigrated with his wife and family 10 years ago from Namibia and is employed by Western Bay District Council as a town planner.

His work office is directly across the racecourse from Tauranga Golf Club and during the week Cloete makes the short journey to work on his short game there.

At the weekend he plays at the Omanu course and represents the club in tournaments and pennant competitions.

Last year he had his heart set on making the Bay of Plenty Masters team but an ongoing arm injury limited his preparation and he missed making the Freyberg Masters squad.

But after his performance at Ohope against a field of outstanding transtasman senior golfers and an abundance of Freyberg Masters players from around the country, Cloete has given notice that he will be a force to be reckoned with in 2017.

New Zealand Seniors

1st Brent Paterson, Royal Auckland: 72 67 67 206
2nd Andries Cloete, Omanu: 72 68 72 212
3rd John Batley, Titirangi: 72 69 73 214
4th Kym Olsen, Australia: 72 72 71 215
5th Michael Barltrop, Royal Auckland: 71 71 73 215
14th Dave Cooke, Tauranga: 73 74 73 220
18th Adrian Campbell, Te Puke: 77 71 74 222
21st Darryn Lowans, Omokoroa: 75 71 77 223