Big week of golf

in the swing of things: Jo Tiejten in action at the Poverty Bay Women's Open yesterday. She was sitting third in her 27-hole stableford division with nine holes to play today. Picture by Paul Rickard

A festival week of competitive golf teed off with Day 1 of the Poverty Bay Women's Open on the Awapuni Links course yesterday.

The Emerre and Hathaway-sponsored two-day tournament features nearly 70 players competing in either matchplay in five divisions or a 27-hole stableford.

It will be followed by the Poverty Bay men's open, which runs from Thursday to Saturday.

Gisborne Girls' High student and top seed Ellen Ball dominanted the McFadyen Cup division 1 championship 8 at the women's open yesterday.

The 1-handicapper breezed into the semifinals with an 8 and 7 defeat of Poverty Bay clubmate Carnie Nelson, followed by a 7 and 6 dismissal of another local, Lynne Holmberg.

It set up a final against Wairakei International member Karen McNeill, who beat Carney Pipi (Electrinet Park) and Jan Utting (PB) en route to the trophy decider.

It was one of five finals this morning. The others were (from Poverty Bay unless otherwise indicated) —

Division 2: Maxine Francois v Janet Muir (Electrinet Park).

Division 3: Paipan Denigan (Mahia) v Rachel Young (Putaturu).

Division 4: Pen Wanklyn v Carolyn Carpendale (Park).

Division 5: Sue Kemp v Viv Kyle (Mahia).