Tairāwhiti women's representative teams won back the Lucy May and Bays Bronze silverware from their Hawke's Bay counterparts in the annual exchange held at Poverty Bay Golf Club on Monday.
Tairāwhiti women's representative teams won back the Lucy May and Bays Bronze silverware from their Hawke's Bay counterparts in the annual exchange held at Poverty Bay Golf Club on Monday.
Tahunga
“We’ll be back.”
That was the vow from many after another memorable chapter was written into the proud history of the Tahunga Men’s Open on Saturday.
And the star of the 2025 version stood out for his blazing orange hoodie and singing voice almost as much as his golf.
Hukanui Brown, belting out the tunes to a boom box as big as his golf bag, mixed Cocker, Tui Teka and that guy from The Commitments in his vocal range, while being taxied around the course in a purple cart en route to an unofficial course record.
Under a blue-blanket sky and amid rolling green hills that made city slickers envy the rural life, Brown crooned his way to a 6-under 64, including seven birdies and a single bogey, and featuring nines of 33, 31.
His score was two better than the official men’s course record, but was categorised “unofficial” due to a couple of local rulings on the day.
Still, 64 was a feat that deserved the almost standing-ovation prizegiving recognition for a man who knows how to go low – having shot a record 59 at his home Patutahi track.
Brown’s performance earned him the unique American whiskey glass bottle trophy while the more standard silverware for the best overall net went to Ross Chalmers – one of a minibus-load of Poverty Bay players who have made the open an annual pilgrimage.
Chalmers, who has won the gross in his heyday, won with a net 68.
A 39-point haul from Waikohu’s Tipi Ruru was another highlight of a tournament noted more for its social atmosphere than as a competition.
This year also featured a special after-round, winner-takes-half approach contest on Tahunga’s famous par-3 bridge hole.
Poverty Bay’s Gray Clapham deserved an award for an almost obsessive determination to win it. He entered 12 times ($5 a pop), only to be denied by Electrinet Park’s Heath Tupara.
Hukanui Brown (right) won the overall gross with an unofficial course record 6-under 64 while Ross Chalmers won the net at the Tahunga Men's open on Saturday. Photo / Chris Taewa
SATURDAY - Tahunga Men’s Open, gross: H. Brown 64 from S. Jeune 73, H. Harris 75.
Net: R. Chalmers 68, W. Brown 69, P. Tuapawa 70 on c/b.
Divison 1 Stableford: R. Clark 33, J. Van Helden 32, E. Brown jnr 31, C. Taewa 30.
Division 2 Stableford: T. Ruru 39, R. Langlands 37, B. Johnson 36, B. McKenzie 36.
Best second shots: B. Morgan, T. Sherratt, R. Langlands.
Approaches: K. Goldsmith, H, Harris, R. Langlands.
Twos: H. Harris, C. Taewa.
Heath Tupara tees off Tahunga's signature par-3 bridge hole. He won the special approach competition held after play in the Tahunga men's open – pocketing a tidy cash sum. Photo / Chris Taewa
Poverty Bay
Auckland-based father and son David and Glenn Solomann are returning to Gisborne this weekend to once again represent Waikohu on finals day of the Tairāwhiti men’s interclub pennants.
But before they raise the battle flag in Waikohu’s playoff against Poverty Bay for third place at the Electrinet Park course on Sunday, the pair will be combining their widely recognised talents at the Enterprise Foursomes open tournament at the Awapuni Links on Saturday.
The “Sollies” look the combo to beat when it comes to the gross.
Foursomes, though, is a fickle and at times merciless beast – known as the most challenging format in golf.
And there are several other duos lined up and keenly motivated to get their skilled hands on the silverware.
Among the frontrunners should be Jace Brown and Dan Collier, Matt Henwood and Craig Christophers, Collin Jeffrey and Brent Colbert, Craig Palmer and Ian Loffler and former foursomes winners Simon Jeune and Rowan Clark.
The tournament also features mixed and women’s sections.
Entries are still being taken. Contact the pro shop.
TUESDAY - Gisborne East Coast veterans’ Stableford: T. Goldsmith 36, M. Garewal 36, K. Goldsmith 35, C. Dean 35, L. Foster 34.
Division 2: D. Raggett 36, W. Thompson 34, A. Carrie 33.
Twos: N. West, P. Clayton, J. Situ, A. Carrie.
Approach: N. Richardson.
THURSDAY (May 15) - Thursday Throne men’s par, division 1: C. Dean +2, T. Williams +2, P. Clayton +2, S. Rimene-Albrett +1, G. Udall sq, H. Williams sq.
The Māori Matariki 18-hole team event being held at Patutahi on Friday, June 20, proved so popular the club decided to add an 8am morning start to the noon tee-off.
More information is available on the Patutahi Facebook page.
SUNDAY - Men’s net: J. Neilson 69, P. Johnston 70, T. Hindmarsh 70, Selwyn Skudder 71, G. Brown 71.
Women’s net: D. Johnston 77.
FRIDAY - Meat pack 9-hole stableford, division 1: T. Hindmarsh 21, B. Williams 21, M. Owen 21, W. Brown 19, J. Neilson 19.
Division 2: S. Gardner 26, F. Russell 23, R. MacGregor 22, B. Croskery 21, K. Dodgshun 20.
Poverty Bay head greenkeeper and former Poverty Bay-East Coast representative Rowan Clark tees off the first hole at Tahunga Golf Club on Saturday. He was part of a minivan-load of Bay players who make an annual pilgrimage to the tournament. Photo / Chris Taewa
Te Puia Hot Springs
James Forrester put together one of his best rounds of the year to win the men’s Stableford on Sunday.
Forrester won with 80-16-64, for 38 points, while Iritana Ngarimu won round 1 of the Captain’s competition and the LGU with 99-26-73.
SUNDAY - Men’s Stableford: J. Forrester 80-16-64, 38; K. Lewis 91-21-70, 37; JJ Forrester 101-35-66, 36.
Women’s Captain’s competition, round 1, LGU and putting: I. Ngarimu 99-26-73 (34 putts); R. Ngatai 97-23-74 (29); H. McClutchie 94-18-76, 29.
Twos: K. Lewis.
Tairāwhiti rep women
Tairāwhiti women put 2024 well and truly behind them with a trophy-winning double in the Lucy May and Bays Bronze representative fixture against Hawke’s Bay on Monday.
The home province reclaimed both titles on a beautiful day on the challenging Poverty Bay course.
Having lost both 12-women team encounters last year, Tairāwhiti bounced back, with their Lucy May senior team triumphing 8-4 and the Bays Bronze squad pipping their Hawke’s Bay counterparts 9-7.
It was the 51st running of the event and the Tairāwhiti teams featured five debutantes – Megan Allen, Jaye McCafferty, Andrea Reeves, Kim Torrez and Audreny Tamanui-Nunn.
All five tasted success on the day – Reeves twice.
Singles matchplay (Tairāwhiti won 5-3): Karen Hay won 1-up; Megan Allen halved; Denise Johnston halved; Lynne Holmberg won 3 and 2; Birgitt Whyte halved; Gay Young won 7 and 5; Kino White lost 1-down; Maxine Francois lost 2 and 1; Janet Muir won 2-up; Mary Allan halved; Sally Spence lost 1-down; Viv Bell won 2-up.
Singles matchplay (Tairāwhiti won 6-4): Tracey Ford won 4 and 3; Debbie Kirkpatrick lost 3 and 2; Doris Brown won 2-up; Min Vette lost 6 and 4; Marg Lane halved; Andrea Reeves won 4 and 3; Tina Duncan won 5 and 4; Odette Thompson won 2 and 1; Jaye McCafferty won 2-up; Teresa Lewis halved; Kim Torrez lost 5 and 3; Audrey Tamanui-Nunn won 4 and 3.
