Fresh approach key to success

MOST HOOPS: Christine McCullough was runner-up and John Wilson was the winner of Barry Croquet Club’s “most hoops” golf croquet tournament. Pictures supplied

Players in Barry Croquet Club’s “most hoops” golf croquet tournament soon realised this type of competition required a fresh look at the game.

Rather than concentrate on defending and hitting the opposition away, they had to take more risks in running the hoops.

Among new players entering the fray, Maurice Allan and Tony Nicholson played steadily all day, together with their partners, gaining some good scores.

They eventually finished in the top half of the field. Each round was played with different partners so players were constantly keeping an eye on their friends’ scores. Play was accompanied by considerable banter throughout the day.

Visitors Rod and Chris McCulloch joined the tournament after lunch and, judging from their scores, they could well have finished in the top half of the field had they played all day — no mean feat for players new to the game and competing against some experienced club members.

When the hoops were tallied up at the end, Christine McCullough was declared runner-up with 35 hoops and the winner was John Wilson with 39.

Barry club member Ross Thomson played in the Tauranga Level Singles Tournament.

Although most of his opponents had lower handicaps, he finished runner-up in his division, with only two losses.

Among his results were two wins against players ranked two handicaps below him and one victory over a player one handicap below him.

Division winner Jayden Youden, from the Hamilton East club, played well to win all his games.