Reverend Nehe Dewes often spoke of the wairua (spirit) in the room when giving a karakia before hakari at the East Coast Open. On Saturday, he won’t physically be at his beloved Te Puia Hot Springs Golf Club, which is hosting rounds five and six of the Tairāwhiti interclub pennants. But his spirit will be. Papa Nehe passed away earlier this week and was farewelled in Gisborne on Tuesday, followed by a service at Rahui Marae in Tikitiki on Thursday. Every golfer who came in contact with Papa Nehe over the years was touched by him. He had an aura of quiet authority, mana and kindness. His karakia and accompanying speeches were inspiring, his stories captivating. He had a handshake, a hongi and words of wisdom for all. Te Puia Hot Springs held a special place in his big heart and it was fitting that his last 18 holes there were with fellow stalwarts Peter Harrison, Bill Clark and Mark Higham early last month. Dewes is pictured playing in the top 16 final of the annual Gisborne East Coast Veteran Golfers’ open tournament at the Poverty Bay course. He lost to Brian Morrissey, who himself is closely connected to Te Puia Hot Springs. RIP Nehe Kururangi Dewes. Photo / Paul Rickard
Reverend Nehe Dewes often spoke of the wairua (spirit) in the room when giving a karakia before hakari at the East Coast Open. On Saturday, he won’t physically be at his beloved Te Puia Hot Springs Golf Club, which is hosting rounds five and six of the Tairāwhiti interclub pennants. But his spirit will be. Papa Nehe passed away earlier this week and was farewelled in Gisborne on Tuesday, followed by a service at Rahui Marae in Tikitiki on Thursday. Every golfer who came in contact with Papa Nehe over the years was touched by him. He had an aura of quiet authority, mana and kindness. His karakia and accompanying speeches were inspiring, his stories captivating. He had a handshake, a hongi and words of wisdom for all. Te Puia Hot Springs held a special place in his big heart and it was fitting that his last 18 holes there were with fellow stalwarts Peter Harrison, Bill Clark and Mark Higham early last month. Dewes is pictured playing in the top 16 final of the annual Gisborne East Coast Veteran Golfers’ open tournament at the Poverty Bay course. He lost to Brian Morrissey, who himself is closely connected to Te Puia Hot Springs. RIP Nehe Kururangi Dewes. Photo / Paul Rickard
The first time Toni Rutene won the Terry Rutene Memorial 4x9-hole tournament that honours one of Waikohu’s greats, she beat Larry Green in the final.
Last weekend, she got her hands on her “Dad’s” trophy for the second time, and another Green was her last victim.
Rutene defeated LawrenceGreen – Larry Green’s son – 1-up in the final.
She had already beaten his father in the first round of the top eight, then ousted her nephew and top qualifier Te Rata Ritchie in the semi-finals while Green jnr knocked out Ethine Reeves.
Men’s handicap singles matchplay final: S. Ritchie def P. Milner by default.
COMING UP: SATURDAY, Waikohu Ladies Open and Round 4 of Tairāwhiti women’s interclub pennants, 10.30am tee-off; SUNDAY, E.R. Black Cup interclub at Pātutahi.
Anthony Pahina was the last man standing in the final of Electrinet Park's Thursday twilight shootout last week. He made birdie on the 18th to beat Chris Fox.
Electrinet Park
Survival was the name of the game as Anthony Pahina showed all his jungle warfare skills in winning the Novus Glass Thursday twilight shootout final last week.
The man known to many as “Punga” exterminated Chris Fox with a killer blow on the last hole to collect the big bucks as 2026 champion.
“He did enough to stay in,” Steve Phillips, who refereed the 10-man final with assistance from James Witika, said.
Ten players teed off the 10th and one was eliminated each hole, until only Pahina and Chris Fox remained on the 18th tee.
Pahina may have dodged the bullets along the way, but when it came to the crunch, he put on his Rambo headband.
A Hollywood movie-ending shot on the 18th saw his ball finish less than a metre away from the hole and he slotted the putt for birdie and victory.
Fox made do with second and Craig Christophers was third.
The Continuous Group Low Bros Cup 36-hole aggregate team Stableford was held over Easter. Witika, Darren Kahukoti, Kurei Collier and Edward Pirini won with a 280 total – 10 points ahead of Mike Christophers, Mat Downie, Pahina and Luke Hayes.
Duane Mauhini was in sensational form in the Sunday round – firing 77-12-65, for 43 points.
MONDAY –Continuous Group Low Bros Cup 36-hole aggregate team Stableford: J. Witika/D.Kahukoti/K. Collier/E. Pirini 280 (146/134); M. Christophers/M.Downie/A. Pahina/L. Hayes 270 (133/137); K. Fonohema/J. Collier jnr/S. Frame/D. Pilitati 268 (140/128).
SUNDAY – Men’s Stableford: D. Mauheni 43, D. Pilitati 40, K. Collier 40, M. Henwood 39, C. Christophers 39.
Twos: D. Pilitati, M. Henwood.
Poverty Bay
Keith Marshall usually has a Coke after his “Sunday School” round before heading home.
Last weekend, he had a beer.
Marshall shot a career-best 3-over 75-10-65, for 43 points, to win the Division 1 men’s Stableford.
He had nines of 37, 38 and his achievement was cause for a celebratory beer or two, and a ride home with son Blake Marshall.
Keith Marshall led a Teacher’s Only day finish, with big-hitting Te Wharau School principal Mark Harris second with a five-birdie 75-9-66, for 42.
Marshall’s balloon popped on Tuesday – shooting a 91.
That’s a classic example of the few highs and all-too-many lows golfers endure, yet go back for more.
Stu Harbottle came back after suffering the ultimate indignity in matchplay golf last Thursday – a 10 and 8 loss. Allan White was the gleeful recipient of Harbottle’s Thursday School $5 haggle money, albeit after his own Jekyll-Hyde performance of 35 for the front nine; 48 for the back.
The round of the week was a rewardless 1-under 71 by Simon Jeune on Sunday. “Jeunie” played some wonderful shots in an opening nine of 3-under 33 in a round that was even better than the numbers showed. His 38 points, however, got jack squat in the club and Sunday School competitions.
Zac Rolls has earned plenty of golfing media attention over recent years, but it was mum Jess Rolls who was in the spotlight on Monday. She won The Swing Room Stableford with 114-44-70, for 40 points, with husband Steve Rolls second on 38.
Paul Rickard’s short game was almost Dame Lydia Ko-like in winning the Gisborne East Coast Veteran Golfers’ Stableford on Tuesday. “Rick” had just 20 putts in his 82-17-65, for 43 points.
TUESDAY - Gisborne East Coast Veterans’ Stableford: P. Rickard 43, S. Andreassen 39, J. McGregor 38, R. Smith 37, A. Carrie 35, B. Morrissey 35, C. Carmody 34, K. Ellison 34, R. Bremner 34.
MONDAY – The Swing Room competition, gross J. Ibbetson 82, B. Clark 94.
Stableford: J. Rolls 40, S. Rolls 38, G. Pellett 35.
SUNDAY – Men’s Stableford, Division 1: K. Marshall 43, M. Harris 42, B. Colbert 39.
Division 2: M. Norman 39, G. Clapham 36, L. Hewson 36
National teams’ net: S. Spence 70, J, Muir 70, J. McCafferty 71, M. Shanks 75.
MONDAY (March 30) – Women’s 6x6x6 competition winner: S. Spence.
COMING UP: SATURDAY, club Stableford and Primo Cup round; SUNDAY, April 19, Tom Shaw Memorial Awapuni Shootout open pairs, 27 holes (9 holes of net; 9 holes of Canadian foursomes; 9 holes of ambrose), men’s, women’s and mixed sections, 8am to 9am two-tee start, entry includes lunch, entries to The Swing Room.
Te Puia Hot Springs
James Forrester was a class above the rest in Sunday’s Stableford. Forrester won with 77-12-65, for 37 points.
SUNDAY – Men’s Stableford: J. Forrester 77-12-65, 37; M. Aurupa 77-9-68, 34; H. Rasmussen 85-17-68, 34; M. Higham 73-5-68, 34.
Women’s Stableford: P. Summersby 33, F. McClutchie 31.
