Emerre and Hathaway PB Open field bursting at the seams

man to beat: Anaru Reedy on his way to winning the 2021 Poverty Bay Open earlier this year. The 2021 edition was postponed to 2022 due to Covid-19. Reedy has the chance of a feat that may never be repeated - two PB Open victories in the one year - when he defends the title in the 2022 edition in September. First-up, though, is his defence of the King of the Coast crown at Tolaga Bay at the end of the month. Picture by Paul Rickard

Reigning champion Anaru Reedy does not have to look far or hard to find the main threats to the successful defence of his Poverty Bay Open title.

The Emerre and Hathaway PB Open is being held on the Awapuni Links course from September 22 to 24 but such is its popularity the 112 spots have already been filled and a reserve list has been compiled.

The host Poverty Bay Golf Club has Covid-19 to thank for that.

Lockdown encouraged many to get out their clubs and give the game a go in the spare time they suddenly had on their hands.

The bug bit, lifestyles changed and golf clubs were the benefactors, with membership increases throughout the country.

The Poverty Bay Open, which dates back to 1931, offers another attraction for players — particularly visitors.

Its format of 36 holes of qualifying, followed by matchplay in seven divisions, is highly appealing to players who want to get in as much golf as possible on a quality course.

And that is what they will get come September on current conditions, particularly the “dance floor”.

Recent coring of the Bay greens has had the desired effect. The greens are in supreme condition and while it is over two months out from the club's biggest event of the year, the small greenkeeping team and volunteers will be working hard to maintain that quality.

Players are coming from far and wide for the three-day PB Open — from the depths of the South Island to Auckland.

Once again the tournament has strong support from Wellington, Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay clubs, including Hastings, Karori and Tauranga.

About half the field are from out of the Poverty Bay-East Coast golfing region.

Electrinet Park member and Tairawhiti Golf Association president Reedy has the chance to do something that has never been achieved.

Reedy won the 2021 PB Open, which was held this year after being postponed due to Covid.

Retaining the title would give him two PB Open titles in the one calendar year.

He has already achieved what is believed to be a first. Reedy holds the “Triple Crown” of men's open titles — the PB Open, King of the Coast (Tolaga Bay) and East Coast Open.

The KotC goes on the line at the end of this month.

His main challengers look to be from within the PBEC regional boundary bar a few standouts.

Te Puke member and former Bay of Plenty representative Craig van der Nagel — the nephew of Poverty Bay greenkeeper Collin Jeffrey — has entered.

Batting off a +1.4 handicap, Van der Nagel top qualified at the PB Open many years ago.

Former Gisborne man David Solomann, who lives in Auckland but still represents PBEC at masters (over-40s) level, is a PB Open regular and will be keen to add a second title to the 1995 crown he claimed as a teenager.

Seven-time champion Waka Donnelly will again bid to join Frank Gordon as the most successful player in PB Open history.

In the field are several PB Open winners from recent years. They include Poverty Bay head greenkeeper William Brown, Peter Kerekere and Simon Jeune.

Two-time champ Andrew Higham is on the reserve list but is likely to play.

The PB Open is preceded by the Poverty Bay Women's Open on September 19 and 20.

champ: Reigning Poverty Bay Open champion Anaru Reedy has plenty of competition as he bids to retain the title.

File picture by Paul Rickard