Patutahi has four contenders — 2019 winner Hukanui Brown, Dwayne Russell, Jace Brown and Regan Hindmarsh.
Te Puia member John Wyllie is in the field but there is little indication of his form as he has played just one official round this year — at Poverty Bay — and his previous 18-hole score was in January 2020.
Fellow “Te Puian” Andrew Higham — a three-time KotC winner — is a notable absence but will be in the thoughts of many over the weekend as he continues his recovery from a serious car accident.
Tolaga Bay hopes are pinned on a lone soldier, Neil Hansen, while Waikohu’s Terry Reeves has sneaked into the top 16 as 15th seed (on handicap) and faces a baptism of fire tomorrow morning.
Three “invaders” are looking to ascend the throne — Opotiki’s Micky Huriwaka, Kawerau’s Tuakana August and Springfield’s (Rotorua) Craig Tiriana.
That the likes of August and several others are KotC regulars is testament to the popularity of the open and its classic East Coast hospitality.
For some, the golf is what they do in between socialising.
