Tairāwhiti No.2 Tony Akroyd came back from a poor Tuesday afternoon performance to beat Caleb Andreoli 2 and 1, No.3 David Solomann defeated Phil Hooper 1-up for his third win of the week and an injured No.1 Anaru Reedy hobbled his way to a half with former professional Andrew Searle.
No.4 Pete Stewart lost 4 and 3 to Brian Martelletti and No.5 Neil Hansen was beaten 3 and 2 by Aarun Langton.
While it wasn’t enough to lift them off the bottom of the standings on the 15-province table, it was a huge confidence boost heading into their final three ties against Hawke’s Bay and Bay of Plenty on Thursday, and Southland on Friday afternoon.
“It was pretty awesome. The boys did themselves proud today,” Reedy said. “It was tough out there in the windy conditions, but the top three did their thing.”
The start of Round 5 was delayed due to heavy rain that flooded one green and caused pooling around the course.
Other courses would have surrendered but the weather eased, Awapuni Links drains well and play got under way at around 10am.
Reedy, who is battling an Achilles and calf muscle injury, decided to play in what was the only round of the day while Hansen replaced Jace Brown at No.5 for his second match of the week.
Despite his physical struggles, Reedy hit the ball “pretty solid” against Searle, who went in with a couple of big notches in his scalp belt.
Searle made birdie on the 17th hole to square the match and both missed birdie chances on the 18th to share the honours.
Akroyd was bitterly disappointed after shank issues in his heavy loss to Canterbury in Round 4 — so much so he headed to the practice fairway and green straight after his match.
He responded in typical Akroyd style yesterday, staving off a back-nine surge from his opponent to notch his second victory of the week.
Reedy said Solomann had been “the star” of the Tairāwhiti side so far.
He thrives in the matchplay format and showed his mettle yesterday after Hooper chipped in for birdie and Solomann missed a 4-foot putt for the half.
“Solly” kept his cool and won the 18th for a 1-up triumph.
Hansen hit the ball solidly but the “flatstick” let him down while Stewart was an example of little mistakes proving fatal at this level.
“One error can cost you the match; that’s how close it is,” Reedy said.
Bay of Plenty and defending champions Wellington drew 2½-all in a top-of-the-table clash yesterday.
BoP went into today at the top of the standings on 4½ team points and 16½ individual wins although had played one more round than Wellington (3½, 13½).
Hawke’s Bay helped those two provinces by toppling previously unbeaten Auckland 4½-½.
The two men who fought out the Poverty Bay Open final on the Awapuni Links course in September are leading BoP’s charge.
Craig Van Der Nagel, at No.3, recorded his fifth consecutive win while No.2 Mark Smith, who beat Van Der Nagel in the PB Open final, notched his fourth win.
Standings after Round 5 —
Bay of Plenty (played 5) 4½ team points; 16½ individual points.
Manawatu Wanganui (4) 3½; 13½
Wellington (4) 3½; 13½
Auckland (4) 3; 12
Tasman (4) 2½; 12½
Otago (5) 2½; 11½
Aorangi (4) 2½; 9½
Waikato (5) 2; 12½
Hawke’s Bay (5) 2; 10½
North Harbour (4) 2; 10½
Taranaki (4) 1½; 10
Northland (4) 1½’ 8
Canterbury (4) 1; 9½
Southland( 5) ½; 9½
Tairāwhiti (5) ½; 5½
