Anaru Reedy leading PBEC at over-40s

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

“There are no easy games.”

Perhaps an obvious comment from Poverty Bay-East Coast's No.1 player at the Freyberg Masters interprovincial, but one worth reinforcing in underlining the challenge for the country's smallest province.

Anaru Reedy is leading a PBEC side who are doing it tough at the over-40s matchplay tournament on Hamilton's St Andrew's course.

PBEC are four losses from four ties after two days. They were beaten 5-0 by Bay of Plenty yesterday morning and 4½-½ by Aorangi in the afternoon.

Having already fallen to Hawke's Bay and Wellington, it left them sitting at the foot of the 15-province table on zero team points and two individual wins — half a team point behind Taranaki.

There was one moment to savour from yesterday's battles.

Representative “rookie” Glenn Morley, playing in his first Freyberg Masters and having lost his three other matches, had a half with Andrew Peck.

“Glenn had a putt to win it,” said PBEC No.2 and team manager Simon Jeune. “It looked really good, but slid by the hole. But he was stoked.”

Reedy lost 2 and 1 to Nigel Heney, Jeune 1-down to Owen Miller. No.3 Tony Akroyd 6 and 4 to Regan Stills and No.4 Peter Clayton 2 and 1 to Aorangi “local legend” Robbie Bell.

BoP simply outclassed PBEC.

Reedy went down 3 and 1 to Steve Williams, Jeune 6 and 5 to Simon Wright, Akroyd 3 and 2 to Marcus Lloyd, Clayton 5 and 4 to Blair Murdock and Morley 6 and 4 to Mark Hughes.

Despite the struggle, Reedy said the team were in a positive frame of mind.

“These are quality players,” he said. “There are no easy games anywhere.”

For example: Reedy was 1-over the card in his 15th-hole loss to big-hitting Wellingtonian Jonathan Cane, who was regularly 30 metres ahead of him off the tee.

Cane had an eagle and three birdies in his round. That was the difference.

Jeune said the weather was hot and humid and the course was in excellent condition.

The greens were fast and true, but it was vital to put your approaches in the right place or you would find yourself with a tumultuous putt.

There was only one round today. PBEC were to face North Harbour, a team they beat last year. Team reserve Rod Moore, a late call-up for Dwayne Russell who had to pull out due to work commitments, was to make his interprovincial debut in place of Morley.

PBEC face Otago and Northland tomorrow, and finish the tournament against Southland on Friday afternoon.

Heading into today's fourth round, Manawatu-Wanganui were top of the table with a perfect four points while BoP and Wellington were on three but both have had a bye.