News, results from Gisborne and East Coast golf courses

Poverty Bay and former Tahunga stalwart Graeme Eriksen was farewelled at a service at the Bushmere Arms today. The man known to many as “Pinky” died last Friday, aged 78. Pinky will be remembered in sporting circles for his prowess on the rugby field and tennis court. He played in the forwards for Poverty Bay in the 1974 and 1975 seasons, appearing alongside some of the greats in the Bay and Ngatapa club teams. He also represented the district in tennis. On the fairways, perhaps a “good, keen golfer” is an appropriate definition although he did win the intermediate men’s club champion title at Tahunga in 1999. He was also a committee member for the Gisborne branch of the Eagles Society of New Zealand and a popular Thursday regular at Poverty Bay in his latter years, burning around the course on his trike. He is pictured watching his tee shot during the 2019 Gisborne East Coast Veterans' Open at his home Poverty Bay course. His last official 18 holes was in October last year. Pinky is survived by wife Sarah, three children and nine grandchildren. RIP Pinky. Photo / Paul Rickard

Electrinet Park

James Witika likes winning trophies.

So he was more than happy to take on Sunday afternoon’s strong winds and a sodden Park course in a bid to win the Summer Cup strokeplay net series.

Commitment earned reward. Witika was one of only three players to turn up for Round 3 and his tally of 223 (71/77/75) off the championship tees was good enough for victory.

Twenty-two was the magic number in last Thursday’s Novus Glass Twilight Stableford.

Shaun Pahina won Division 1 with a 1-over 37-5-32, for 22 points.

Jon Pardoe won Division 2 with 22 on countback from Noah Campbell.

Anthony Pahina’s birdie-2 on the seventh hole earned him the Birdie Board jackpot of $104.

THURSDAY (Feb 12) - Novus Glass Twilight Stableford, Division 1: S. Pahina 22.

Division 2: J. Pardoe 22, N. Campbell 22.

Long drive: R. Maynard.

Nearest the pin: Blue Toa.

Birdie Board: A. Pahina.

Monkey on the back: Blue Toa.

Waikohu

Ella Wynyard tasted victory and defeat in the one round on Sunday.

Wynyard’s 31 points in challenging conditions topped the club Stableford, but she lost on the 19th to Audrey Tamanui-Nunn in the first-round women’s handicap singles match.

Andrea Reeves beat Toni Rutene 2-up in the other match played.

SUNDAY - Stableford: E. Wynyard 31, A. Reeves 30, A. Tamanui-Nunn 28, T. Smth 28.

Women’s handicap singles matchplay: A. Tamanui Nunn def Ella Wynyard (19th).

Andrea Reeves def Toni Rutene 2up.

COMING UP: SUNDAY, handicap singles.

Patutahi

A new-look Tairāwhiti women’s pennants is being trialled from this Saturday.

As has happened in previous years, pennants rounds will be held as part of women’s open tournaments at various clubs.

But this year, the pennants will be run as a matchplay format in senior, intermediate and junior divisions.

The first round is at the Patutahi Ladies Open on Saturday. The competing clubs this year are Patutahi, Mahia, Electrinet Park, Te Puia Hot Springs, Wairoa and Waikohu.

The Patutahi open opening tournament that was to be played last Saturday was postponed to March 14 due to the weather.

SUNDAY - Men’s net: T. Hindmarsh 67, K. Harrison-Allen 69, D. Russell 69.

FRIDAY - Meat pack 9-hole Stableford, Division 1: A. Hindmarsh 20, T. Sharp 19, S. Robertson 18, R. Hindmarsh 17, P. Molloy 17.

Division 2: J. Tietjen 21, G. Maude 21, P. Jex-Blake 21, N. Short 19, M. White 18.

COMING UP: SATURDAY, Patutahi Ladies Open Day, net, gross and Stableford in two divisions, long drives, twos and approaches, playing handicap cap of 36, morning tea and registration from 9am, tee-off at 10am, limited number of carts available, email entries to ladies.patutahigolfclub@gmail.com

Tolaga Bay

Joe Sheridan did the treble in Sunday’s competition.

Sheridan’s Stableford-winning 80-16-64, for 40 points, included a two and he also won the approach.

SUNDAY - Stableford: J. Sheridan 40, M. Watts 35, W. Reedy 30, D. Maitai 30.

Twos: J. Sheridan.

Approach: J. Sheridan.

COMING UP: SUNDAY, March 22, Tolaga Bay opening day, Canadian foursomes and men’s Stableford, sections, novelty prizes, long drives, closest to the pin, 11am tee-off, contact Murray Yates 0220943728.

Poverty Bay

There have been a fair few 19th-hole drinks between sub-80 rounds on his home course for Clive Dean.

“CD” ended a three-year-drought last Thursday with 79-12-67, for 41 points, and subsequently won Division 1 of the men’s Stableford.

His previous score in the 70s on Awapuni Links was in January of 2023.

Jacob Leaf and Stu Harbottle banked good points as a small field braved the opening round of the Primo Cup points series.

Six-season Poverty Bay Heartland Championship squad member Leaf won Division 1 of the men’s net on Saturday with 80-10-70 off the blue tees, including a two.

Harbottle went out in 2-over 38 and went on to top Division 2 with 83-12-71.

TUESDAY - Poverty Bay veterans’ Stableford (played at Patutahi Golf Club): R. Wells 37, L. Foster 35, A. Putnam 35, P. McKenzie 35, N. Jones 34, B. Morrissey 33.

SATURDAY - Primo Cup series-opening competition, men’s net, Division 1: J. Leaf 70, D. Jenkins 75.

Division 2: S. Harbottle 71, R. Foon 73.

Twos: J. Leaf, S. Andreassen, P. Butler.

Nearest to pin: P. Butler.

THURSDAY (Feb 12) - Men’s Stableford, Division 1: C. Dean 41, M. Higham 38, N. Mackie 36, M. Wright 35, S. Jeune 35.

Division 2: H. Williams 39, B. Read 37, T. Loomis 37, M. Dodgshun 36, T. Williams 36.

Twos: J. Jenner, J. Rowe, B. Colbert.

Nearest to pin: H. Williams.

COMING UP: SATURDAY, qualifying for Reynolds Cup and associated cups men’s handicap matchplay, enter at pro shop; SUNDAY, Feb 22, Bull Cup men’s team of four Stableford, enter at pro shop.

Veterans

Home-course player Bryan Cooper topped a field of nearly 50 players in the recent Gisborne East Coast Veteran Golfers’ Society competition held at Mahia.

Cooper, who does not venture much into sub-90 territory, won with 89-22-67, for 41 points - three points clear of the chasing bunch.

The next GEC Vets’ round is at Patutahi on March 3.

GECVGS Stableford results, men: B. Cooper 41, D. McKinlay, D. Bush 38, R. Farmer 38, N. Jones 36, N. Owen 35, R. Bremner 35, R. Smith 35, C. Poole 34, D. Bremner 33, W. Carpendale 33, P. Leet 33.

Women: P. Denigan 37.