Ball rights his wrong nine years on

BALL-WATCHING: Frank Ball (left) keeps a careful eye on his ball during the championship 8 final of the Poverty Bay Senior Men’s Open on the Poverty Bay course yesterday. Ball defeated Bernie Rothschild 3 and 2 in an all-Poverty Bay affair. Pictures by Liam Clayton

FRANK Ball finally has his hands on a trophy he should have won nine years ago.

The left-hander defeated Bernie Rothschild in the Challenge Cup championship 8 final at the Sean Shivnan Pharmacy Poverty Bay Senior Men’s Open on the Poverty Bay course yesterday.

Ball beat defending champion Rothschild 3 and 2 in a handicap match that was played off the stick as both are on an 11-handicap.

There was a touch of irony to the win.

In 2008, playing in the tournament for the first time, Ball lost the Challenge Cup final to Cam Taylor.

Ball called a penalty shot on himself on the 18th while 1-up after believing he had breached a rule.

He went on to lose on the 19th only to discover after the round that it was not an offence.

On the first hole of yesterday’s final, Ball called a rule on himself again after an indiscretion in a bunker. This time he was in breach.

He shrugged that off and continued his solid play over the three days of matchplay to win on the 16th.

Bruce Bell won the second 8 final 1-up over Richard Foon, Warwick Thompson won the third 8, Brian Hall the fourth 8, Sijtze Mohlmann the fifth 8 and visiting golfer Keith Hickman the sixth 8.

A senior women’s stableford tournament was also played.

Mihi Marino had a superb three days to win the 54-hole overall stableford title with 127 points. Judy Roe-Mason won the 9-holers’ section with 62 points.