Chip-in win a story Jeune won’t forget

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

SIMON Jeune has had plenty of wins in his long and illustrious representative golf career.

He’s unlikely, however, to forget his dramatic victory in a battle-of-the-bays day at the Freyberg Masters national interprovincial in Auckland yesterday.

Jeune’s Poverty Bay-East Coast team fell 3½ to 1½ to Hawke’s Bay in Round 5 of the over-40s matchplay tournament being held on the Whitford Park course.

Playing at No.4 in the five-man side, Jeune chalked up his third win from four matches in a Hollywood blockbuster movie finish to his clash with Hugh Harrison.

Jeune had been 1-up with four holes to play, only for Harrison to win the 15th and 16th holes. Jeune sank a six-foot par putt to win the 17th, then put his tee shot on the par-3 18th (the ninth hole, as they started on the 10th) just short of the green.

He’s well known at home for his quality short game and his escape-artist skills. And right on cue, he delivered, chipping in for birdie-2 from about 20 feet to win.

“He was gutted,” Jeune said.

“He was very quiet after that. I felt sorry for him, so I bought him a couple of beers.”

PBEC No.1 Anaru Reedy provided the half-point when he squared his match with Tony Sutherland.

Reedy was 2-down with four holes to play and proceeded to win the next two and narrowly missed a birdie putt on the 17th that would have made it three. Honours were shared with matching pars on the last hole.

PBEC No.2 Tony Akroyd lost 2-down to Mark Tasker, No.3 Pete Anderson lost 5 and 4 to Nick Radonich and No.5 Stefan Andreassen lost 2 and 1 to Paul Beachen.

It was PBEC’s fifth consecutive team defeat but they remained in 13th place out of the 15 provinces because of their individual record.

PBEC went into this morning’s round on 0 team points and 7½ individual points.

Taranaki were 14th, just half an individual point back, and Otago were 15th on three individual points.

PBEC were to face Manawatu-Wanganui this morning and Otago in the afternoon.

They have a bye tomorrow morning and finish the tournament with what is shaping up as a crucial Friday afternoon clash against Taranaki.

Team reserve David Solomann was to replace Andreassen this morning and Anderson was to sit out the afternoon round.