Bruce Maher achieved a career-first hole-in-one on his home Mahia course on Sunday. It just happened to be the nearest to the pin hole as well.
Mark Higham may now be a pensioner but he is playing as well as he was 25-plus years ago.
The 65-year-old won the Stableford on Sunday with 68-5-63 for 39 points.
It was his second sub-70 score at the Springs in the past three weeks.
The other round, on March 1, will go down as one of his best.
Higham was 5-over the card after seven holes, then played the last 11 holes 5-under for an even par 66-7-59.
He admitted he had “no idea” what happened. “I just went ballistic.”
He made birdies on the ninth, 10th, 13th, 14th and 15th holes, including two twos.
Higham was well aware he was within striking distance of shooting his age. He scrambled a par on the 17th, then had a 3m putt for birdie on the 18th, only to leave his attempt millimetres short.
SUNDAY – Stableford: M. Higham 68-5-63, 39; N. Mackie 75-8-67, 37.
Twos: M. Higham, P. Harrison.
SUNDAY (March 15) – Jo Hale Memorial series overall winner (best three of four rounds of net): M. Aurupa.
Fourth round of Jo Hale Memorial, men’s net: Putahi Morice 83-24-59, I. Logan 74-9-65, J. Forrester jnr 99-34-65, M. Aurupa 79-9-70.
Women’s net: H. McClutchie 90-18-72, D. Pearson 97-22-75.
Twos: D. Pearson, R. Smith, P. Morice.
SUNDAY (March 1) – Jo Hale Memorial series, third round, men’s net: M. Higham 66-7-5, B. Clark 75-12-63, D. Cook 86-22-64, M. Aurupa 74-9-65.
Women’s net: H. McClutchie 92-18-74, R. Ngatai 103-28-75.
Twos: M. Higham 2.
Golf’s most sought-after achievement is often described as the perfect shot.
Not by Bruce Maher.
The good, keen Mahia man recorded a career-first ace on his home track last weekend with a swing he referred to as “less than perfect”.
It came on Mahia’s 133m second hole with an 8-iron.
The ball struck a bank in front of the green, bounced on to the surface and “found its way into the hole”.
Maher was more surprised than his playing partners, but those who know the popular club man say it was well-deserved.
A former member of the Taihape and Waiōuru golf clubs, the ex-sheep and beef farmer, who has been contract fencing for the past 20 years, shifted to the coastal settlement in 2017 and has been a valued Mahia member ever since.
He also has a strong connection with the Wairoa Golf Club dating back to his Waiōuru days, when he played off as a low as a 4-handicap.
It’s 13 nowadays and his historic ace fittingly came on the approach hole, from which he went on to shoot 83.
Maher loves the game. Even more so when Auckland-based son Nathan Maher (Wainui Golf Club, a 9-handicappr) comes to visit. Nathan Maher himself had an ace at Redwood Park in Auckland three years ago.
“It’s great to see how our club is humming along and it takes consistent members like Bruce – those who show up, lend a hand and genuinely enjoy the game – to make that happen," Mahia president Maraea Wesche said.
“This is a fantastic achievement and one that’s well deserved.”
Matt Henwood loves his 50-degree wedge.
And so he should. In the space of seven days it has earned him two jackpots (two twos) at the Bay with eagle shots.
On Thursday, March 12, Henwood sank a wedge shot on the 367m par-4 fourth hole for two, then made birdie on the par-3 sixth.
Seven days later, the same club was used to make eagle-2 on the 370m ninth hole, which he followed up with a two on the 11th.
Nigel Jones bounced back brilliantly from a disastrous Sunday round with victory in the Tuesday veterans’ Stableford.
“Jonesy” fired 100 for 26 points, and was given a blunt 19th-hole assessment of hjs putting by a Sunday School playing partner. Two days later he responded with 85-18-67 for 41 points.
Three players are setting the early pace in qualifying for the 2026 Sean Shivnan Pharmacy Shootout.
Jarome Finch (69, 69, 71), Jacob Leaf (69, 70, 70) and Dave Pirimona (69, 70, 70) fill the top three spots on 209 totals. Leaf won both Division 1 men’s Stableford competitions over the weekend.
The Reynolds Cup and associated trophy men’s handicap finals are on Saturday. Vance Richardson and Waiti Tamatea face off for the Reynolds top-8 honours, while Dave Jenkins and Craig Morton meet in the Willock Cup second 8 decider, and Bill Simpson and Dave Pirimona do battle for the Low Bros Cup third-8 glory.
TUESDAY – Veterans’ Stableford: N. Jones 41, D. Maloy 38, J. Jenner 38, R. Wells 38, C. Poole 37, N. Jenkins 37.
Twos: B. Morrissey.
Hidden hole (14th): R. Davis net 2.
SUNDAY – Men’s Stableford, Division 1: J. Leaf 35, A. Reedy 34, C. Carmody 34.
Division 2: D. Pirimona 38, M. Norman 37, M. Lewin 37, L. Hewson 36.
Twos: C. Simpson.
Nearest to pin: A. Reedy.
SATURDAY – Men’s Stableford, Division 1: J. Leaf 35, M. Callaghan 34, A. Hayward 34.
Division 2: R. Richards 39, D. Pirimona 38.
Nearest to pin: G. Brown.
THURSDAY (March 19) – Men’s Stableford, Division 1: M. Henwood 38, C. Dean 33.
Division 2: J. Aitchison 32, S. Willock 30.
Twos: J. Aitchison 2, M. Henwood 2, J. Devery.
Nearest to pin: J. Devery.
Jackpot: M. Henwood.
John Tietjen showed he can extend his game beyond nine holes in the club net competition on Sunday.
A predominantly 9-hole player, Tietjen won the Division 2 men’s section with 91-26-65.
Reuben Mottart found his best form to top Division 1 with 73-7-66, including a two on the 15th hole.
Both Tietjen and Mottart were comfortable victors.
SUNDAY – Men’s net, Division 1: R. Mottart 66, P. Molloy 70, H. Harris 70, T. Hindmarsh 71, R. Moleta 71.
Division 2: J. Tietjen 65, B. McKenzie 71, C. Harris 71, C. Brown 72.
Women’s net: F. Tupara 75.
Twos: G. Brown, R. Mottart.
FRIDAY – Meat pack 9-hole Stableford, Division 1: A. Brodie 23, G. Brown 19, S. Robertson 19, R. Hindmarsh 18, S. Toa 17.
Division 2: C. Harris 20, J. Tietjen 19, I. Tietjen 17, C. Brown 17.
COMING UP: SATURDAY, March 28, Kaitere Farms Pātūtahi Men’s Open, includes Bryan Johnson Memorial Cup, limited to first 100 players, entry includes twos, morning tea followed by tee-off at 11am, contact George Brown 0273709869 or horiboy1@xtra.co.nz; MONDAY, Tairāwhiti Maori Golf Special General Meeting regarding constitution changes to comply with Incorporated Societies Act 2022, 5.30pm, Pātutahi Golf Club, inquiries to George Brown.
It is perhaps no surprise to see Matt Henwood in the No 1 seed spot in the senior division of the Men’s Handicap Cup competition.
The big-hitting Henwood is one of the district’s form golfers and continued that on Sunday in top qualifying with a 1-under 71-2-69.
Kurei Collier’s 80-13-67 topped the intermediate division while Tim Beattie earned the No 1 ranking in the junior division with 87-18-69.
SUNDAY – Par competition: M. Henwood 71-2-69, +3; T. Beattie 87-18-69, +3; M. Christophers 81-10-71, +2; G. McKinnon 85-11-74, sq; S. Frame 96-23-73, sq.
Twos: R. Maynard, J. Witika, D. Kahukoti, M. Henwood, M. Rofe.
COMING UP: SUNDAY, Lunken Cup Canadian mixed foursomes, 9.30am start.
Newly turned 60-year-old Rongo Pomana had a busy weekend on his home Tolaga Bay track.
Having turned out for Tolaga Bay 2 in the opening round of the Tairāwhiti men’s interclub pennants on Saturday, Pomana returned with daughter Parinuitera Love-Pomana on Sunday for the club’s 2026 open opening tournament.
The pair combined to win the Canadian foursomes with 39 points while another Tolaga Bay stalwart, Pete Stevenson, won the men’s Stableford with 38 points on countback from Joe Sheridan and Tim Adamson.
SUNDAY – Tolaga Bay open opening day, men’s Stableford: P. Stevenson 38, J. Sheridan 38, T. Adamson 38, T. Higgs 36, M. Yates 36, P. Tuapawa 35, G. McLean 32.
Canadian foursomes: P. Love-Pomana/R. Pomana 39, R. Ngatai/M. Watts 38, J. Hale/A. Hale 33, T. Ruru/M. Tuapawa 32, R. Hiko/K. Ruru 30.
Long drives: E. Reeves (men), P. Love-Pomana (women).
Approaches, men: R. Waru, T. Adamson.
Approaches, women: R. Hiko, M. Vette.
Twos: G. McLean, T. Adamson, R. Hiko/K. Ruru.
Pātūtahi aren’t looking too far ahead, but the 2026 Tairāwhiti women’s interclub pennants crown is in their sights.
The Tahi enjoyed an excellent 8-2 win over Electrinet Park in Round 4 of the seven-round series, which was held as part of the Mahia women’s open on Saturday.
Frances Tupara, Kim Torrez and Charlie Holland picked up matchplay wins for the Tahi while Carney Pipi saved Park from the whitewash with her defeat of Sheree Gray.
Te Puia Hot Springs beat Waikohu 7-3 courtesy of wins to Hiria McClutchie and Iritana Ngarimu, and a half for Pauline Summersby.
Wairoa shared the honours 5-5 with Poverty Bay. Megan Allen and Maxine Francois had wins for the city club; June Underhill and Dardie Brown earned the points for Wairoa.
Pātūtahi led the series on 27 points, although 10 of these were earned automatically as the host club (who have the bye) in Round 1.
Wairoa, yet to host, are second on 20, followed by Te Puia Hot Springs and Mahia on 19 apiece.
Round 4 of the seven-round series is at Waikohu on April 11.
ROUND 3 RESULTS – Te Puia Hot Springs 7 Waikohu 3 (Te Puia names first): Hiria McClutchie def Andrea Reeves 2 and 1; Pauline Summersby halved with Cheryl Te Rito; Robin Ngatai lost to Audrey Tamanui-Nunn 7 and 6; Iritana Ngarimu def Marg Tuapawa 5 and 4.
Pātūtahi 8 Electrinet Park 2: Sheree Gray lost to Carney Pipi 2 and 1; Frances Tupara def Min Vette 2 and 1; Kim Torrez def Jo Kerr 2 and 1; Charlie Holland def Ashley Tuari 2 and 1.
Wairoa 5 Poverty Bay 5: Louise Tana lost to Megan Allen 3 and 2; Tina Duncan lost to Maxine Francois 2 and 1; June Underhill def Teresa Lewis 3 and 2; Dardie Brown def Lynne Holmberg 3 and 2.
Mahia had the bye.
Standings: Pātūtahi 27, Wairoa 20, Te Puia Hot Springs 19, Mahia 19, Electrinet Park 12, Poverty Bay 12, Waikohu 11.