Poverty Bay member Richard Foon hobnobbed it with some of the rich and famous at the New Zealand Open at Millbrook in Queenstown last week. Foon secured an amateur experience of the tournament, which included practice rounds at Millbrook and the Pro-Am on Millbrook's Remarkables and Coronet courses, for which he was partnered with Korean Yun Seok Kang. The pair failed to make the 36-hole cut, but Foon made the most of his time there, capturing selfies and photos with the likes of surfing's GOAT Kelly Slater, PGA Tour five-time winner and Liv Tour pro Kevin Na (pictured), and former All Blacks coach John Hart.
Poverty Bay member Richard Foon hobnobbed it with some of the rich and famous at the New Zealand Open at Millbrook in Queenstown last week. Foon secured an amateur experience of the tournament, which included practice rounds at Millbrook and the Pro-Am on Millbrook's Remarkables and Coronet courses, for which he was partnered with Korean Yun Seok Kang. The pair failed to make the 36-hole cut, but Foon made the most of his time there, capturing selfies and photos with the likes of surfing's GOAT Kelly Slater, PGA Tour five-time winner and Liv Tour pro Kevin Na (pictured), and former All Blacks coach John Hart.
Dwayne Russell has been busy setting up the biggest Tairāwhiti men’s interclub pennants in history, but signalled he could be one of its stars in the Waikohu Men’s Open on Saturday.
Patutahi member and former rugby professional Russell won the Division 1 men’s gross with 72, one ahead ofclubmate Hukanui Brown.
Russell had four birdies, including a two, but a sub-70 round was thwarted by a triple bogey on the par-4 eighth.
The course proved tough on the Turanga Health-sponsored day on which the memory of Waikohu stalwart Tama Brown, who died in December, was honoured.
Terry Reeves (Waikohu), Pete Stewart (Poverty Bay), Korbin Harrison-Allen (Patutahi), Blair Crawshaw (Waikohu) and Mike King (Poverty Bay) were the other section winners.
The men’s and women’s handicap singles matchplay series continued on Sunday. Winners were Sonny Ritchie, Percy Milner, Toni Rutene and Penny Rutene.
Te Kotahi Kaio won the men’s Stableford on Sunday with 41 points.
SATURDAY – Turanga Health Waikohu Men’s Open, Division 1, gross: D. Russell 72, H. Brown 73.
Williams won the money in a Saturday 9-hole haggle to mark the respective birthdays of club member Jason Phillips (50) and president Tony Green (65).
His 20 points denied Collin Jeffrey on coin-toss countback, although the latter won the approach.
Williams was on the other end of countback in Sunday’s club competition. His 77-12-65 was beaten by Korban Harrison-Allen’s 76-11-65.
One “black-box” hole on the handicap website stood out on an otherwise impressive Sunday card for Regan Hindmarsh. He won the Division 1 men’s gross with 1-over 71 – three front-nine birdies negated by a triple-bogey 7 on the 14th.
Frances Tupara keeps on keeping on. She won the women’s gross with 88, while Charlie Holland topped the net with 73.
Matt White posted one of his best-ever 9-hole gross scores in winning Division 2 of the Friday meat pack Stableford with 42-13-29, for 24 points.
FRIDAY – Meat pack 9-hole Stableford, Division 1: C. Parker 20, Beau Toa 20, M. Broad 18, A. Hindmarsh 17, S. Butt 17.
Division 2: M. White 24, N. Short 23, G, Maude 22, K. Dodgshun 22, G. Roadley 20.
COMING UP: SATURDAY, March 14, Patutahi open opening day tournament, Canadian mixed foursomes and men’s sections, contact George Brown 0273709869 or horiboy1@xtra.co.nz
Poverty Bay member Richard Foon and surfing superstar Kelly Slater at the NZ Open. "Kelly Slater wanted a selfie after a hit at the driving range," Foon reckoned.
Richard Foon and former All Black coach John Hart at the NZ Open. "Hanging out with our next AB coach," Foon joked.
Poverty Bay
Reigning champion Pat Butler lived to fight another day after a titanic Round 1 battle in the Reynolds Cup and associated cups men’s matchplay competition on Saturday.
A par on the 24th hole (par-3 sixth) got Butler across the line against Matt Henwood in their five-hour duel.
Vance Richardson knocked out Jacob Leach 2-up in the other top 8 match to set up a semi-final against young gun Kymani.
It will probably be the only time in his life 25th place earns Mike Christophers a trophy.
Christophers picked up the silverware and valuable Primo Cup series points in winning the Lunken Cup final for the players who qualified 25th and over.
There was actually only two of them, hence it being a final. The other was Christophers’ brother Craig, who had to give him two shots. Mike won 3 and 2 to earn family bragging rights for now. No word on if he intends to fill the cup.
Craig “Bondy” Morton had three victories over the week. He won the Division 2 men’s Stableford on Thursday with 89-20-69, for 41 points, the Division 2 Stableford on Saturday with 36 points, and his Willock Cup second 8 matchplay clash.
The round of the week, however, came from lethal leftie Ross Gibson, who could have used his Scotty Cameron putter as a branding iron on his way to winning the Sunday Division 1 Stableford with 79-13-66, for 42 points, including a two and the approach.
SATURDAY – Reynolds Cup and associated cups men’s matchplay, Round 1, Reynolds Cup top 8 (seeding in brackets): Kymani Tamatea (1) def Colin Simpson (8) 3 and 2; Vance Richardson (4) def Jacob Leaf (5) 2-up; Waiti Tamatea (2) def Clive Dean (7) 5 and 4; Pat Butler (3) def Matt Henwood (6) on the 24th.
Willock Cup second 8: Keith Marshall def Brian Anderson; Dave Jenkins def Ross Chalmers; Kit Goldsmith def John Kerekere; Craig Morton def Jarome Finch.
Low Bros Cup third 8: Bill Simpson def Stefan Andreassen; Kim Travers def Mike Lewin; Dave Pirimona def Craig Palmer; Kim Gunness def George Brown.
Lunken Cup bottom group, final: Mike Christophers def Craig Christophers.
COMING UP: SUNDAY, March 15, Mixed Pairs Open, featuring DJ Barry Jug (net) and Toogood Jug (Stableford), fundraiser for clubhouse upgrades, enter at pro shop, club will organiser partner if required.
Tolaga Bay
The Tolaga Bay open opening day tournament is on Sunday, March 22. Canadian foursomes and men’s Stableford sections, along with novelty prizes, long drives and approaches. Tee-off is 11am. Contact Murray Yates 0220943728.
