Fitting tribute to Joe and Letty

Mangatuna Masters champions: Matt Jefferd and Iritana Ngarimu hold the Joe Crawford and Letty Poananga memorial trophies for overall men’s and women’s net winners at the Mangatuna Masters fundraising tournament at Tolaga Bay Golf Club. Left, is Joe’s wife Violet; right is Letty’s husband Sean. Picture supplied

GOLF

THE spirits of the late Joe Crawford and Letty Poananga were felt throughout the reformed Mangatuna Masters open golf tournament at Tolaga Bay.

And no doubt they were smiling.

The fundraiser/memorial tournament was such a success that it could become an annual event . . . again.

“I know my father-in-law (Joe) would have absolutely loved the day, likewise Letty,” said Joe’s daughter-in-law and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Mangatuna tumuaki (principal) Tania Hunter.

Joe was on the Mangatuna kura (school) board of trustees and was a stalwart member of Tolaga Bay Golf Club.

It had been a dream of his to reinstate the Masters tournament, which used to be a popular event, said Tania.

The tournament was resurrected as a fundraiser for the Mangatuna kura and a tribute to Joe and Letty.

“They were two really big community people, Letty more so in the background, Papa Joe all over,” said Tania, whose husband Darryl is chairman of Uawa Sports Club of which Letty’s husband Sean is a committee member.

“We had a lot to do with Sean and Letty . . . and they were very supportive of fundraising initiatives hosted by the kura.”

Money raised went to the school for its Year 7 and 8 students’ trip to Japan in August.

“We also donated a percentage of each registration to Tolaga Bay Golf Club. We couldn’t have done it without them.”

The tournament attracted 140 players — 75 in the novice nine-hole section and 65 in the 18-hole competition.

There was “a massive response” to sponsoring holes, others donated to the prize table and players themselves arrived with goodies for the table . . . “absolutely amazing”.

There was also a $500 hole-in-one cash prize although it was not struck.

“We’d like to thank the many Tairawhiti businesses and individuals for their wonderful support,” said Tania.

The premier prizes — the Joe Crawford and Letty Poananga memorial trophies for men’s and women’s top overall net — were won by Matthew Jefferd and Iritana Ngarimu.