Golden glory for Grace, Ruru masters Te Marua

Pride of Waikohu . . .Waikohu club members had a successful Maori national golf champs at the Te Marua course. Val Grace won the golden girls’ net, Ike Ruru won the masters stableford and Ella Wynyard was runner-up in the golden girls’ stableford. Pictured after prize-giving (from left) are  Waikohu’s Larry Green, who won the masters’ net last year, Grace, Ruru and Wynyard.Picture supplied

Valerie Grace led the way as Waikohu members made their mark at the 86th Maori National Golf Tournament hosted by Poneke last week.

Grace won the 72-hole net title in the golden girls division played on the Te Marua course in Upper Hutt. Her 271 total off a 31-handicap was highlighted by a Round 2 net 61.

Her other scores were 74, 67 and 69 as she finished eight shots ahead of the runner-up.

Fellow Waikohu member Ella Wynyard, after winning the golden girls’ stableford last year, was runner-up this time with a 154 total off a 23-handicap.

Ike Ruru made it a treble success for Waikohu by winning the stableford in the masters division also played at Te Marua.

Ruru, off 34, racked up 156 points including a 44-point haul in Round 2. His other scores were 36, 40 and 36.

Aucklander Kyle Maihi won the senior men’s matchplay title for the third time, beating Murupara’s Marcus Lloyd 5 and 4 in the final on the Shandon course.

The senior women’s crown was also won for a third time by Titahi Bay’s Te Rongopai Clay. She beat Opotiki’s Stevee Biddle-Tai 5 and 3 in the final.

Both champions ranked the Maori nationals as their favourite event . . . “not because of the golf, but because of the people”, Clay said.

The 2025 tournament is in Taupō.