In full swing ... Anaru Reedy (left) and Mutu Ngarimu in action during the East Coast Open at Te Puia Hot Springs Golf Club over the weekend. Electrinet Gisborne Park member Reedy defeated Wellington teenager Ngarimu on the second extra hole in the championship 16 matchplay final to win his sixth EC Open crown. Photo / Gray Clapham
Anaru Reedy underlined his status as one of the district’s greatest players of the 21st century with a sixth East Coast Open crown on Sunday.
But he had to work overtime for it.
Electrinet Park member Reedy, hot off an outstanding Freyberg Masters interprovincial for Tairāwhiti, defeated Wellington teenager Mutu Ngarimu (Judgeford Golf Club) on the 20th hole of the championship 16 matchplay final.
There was relief and jubilation on the face of the 54-year-old as his six-foot birdie attempt on the par-4 second hole (second extra hole) dropped in to defeat talented left-hander Ngarimu, who was looking to emulate brother Apirana’s 2023 East Coast triumph.
It made it EC Open crown number six for Ruatōria-raised Reedy, dating back to 2003.
Both players had comfortable semifinal wins. Reedy beat fellow Tairāwhiti masters rep Jace Brown (Patutahi) 5 and 4 while Ngarimu defeated fellow young gun Elijah Huriwaka (Ōpōtiki) 4 and 3.
Reedy cruised through his first two matches - shaking hands with Makau Phipps (Ōpōtiki) on the 14th, then Wiremu Aupouri (Tolaga Bay) on the same hole.
The final was a different story. Ngarimu, the namesake nephew of former NZ Māori All Black, Poverty Bay, Ngāti Porou East Coast and Hawke’s Bay representative Mutu Ngarimu, led 2-up after nine holes.
Reedy birdied the 10th, then chipped in for birdie-2 on the long par-3 11th to square the match.
It remained even to the 16th, which Reedy won with a par. Wellngton junior representative Ngarimu bounced back with birdie on 17 to tie it and had the chance for victory on the 18th, but missed a 10-foot birdie attempt. Reedy made an excellent up and down for par to stay alive.
Both missed birdie putts on the 19th and it seemed almost inevitable it would take birdie to win it, which Reedy delivered on 20.
Reedy was highly impressed by his young opponent.
“He was very meticulous in his process, very focused ... very poker-faced. He’s a great potential.”
He put his victory down to two factors ... putting and the breakfasts cooked by mother Shirley at their family homestead in Ruatōria.
“I dedicate the win to Mum and her bacon and eggs.”
SATURDAY/SUNDAY - East Coast men’s open, championship 16, overall winner: Anaru Reedy from Mutu Ngarimu.
Third: Elijah Huriwaka.
Flight: Micky Huriwaka from Apirana Ngarimu.
Plate: Graeme McLellan from Bruce Yates.
Consolation: Makau Phipps.
Te Puia Hot Springs Handicap 2nd 16, overall winner: Tim Adamson from Peter Stewart.
Third: Craig Purcell.
Flight: Aubrey Nepia from Don Betham.
Plate: Tim Mackie from Neil Mackie.
Consolation: Mike Bond.
Tokomaru Bay Handicap 3rd 16, overall winner: Eruera West from Ian Logan.
Third: Neil Bell.
Flight: Mikaera Aurupa from Grant Lawton.
Plate: Matt McIntosh from Kit Goldsmith.
Consolation: Aaron Higham.
Waipiro Bay 4th 16, overall winner: Matt Tong from Kahu Waitoa.
Third: Gary McLean.
Flight: Tim Sherratt from Nigel Higham.
Plate: Alvie Lawton from Steve Satherley.
Consolation: Glenn Phipps.
Ruatoria Handicap bottom 8, overall winner: Willie Mannering from Daryl Goldsmith.
Flight: Mark Barker (Poverty Bay).
Plate: Andy Jefferd (PB).
Consolation flight: Grant Callander (Maungakiekie).
Twos: J. Brown, Z. Boyle, N. Mackie 3, W. Mannering, C. Purcell 2, K. Goldsmith 2, G. Phipps 2, A. Ngarimu, M. Ngarimu 2, E Huriwaka, M. Tong, A. Lawton, A. Hayward, M. Aurupa 2, M. Harris, M. Phipps, I. Logan, E. West.
COMING UP: SATURDAY, Nov 29, Te Puia Hot Springs Christmas tournament, gross, net and Stableford, lots of hams to be won, 10.30am to 12 noon rolling start.
Welcome back Wai.
Wai Miller is not the golfer of 30 years ago, but she still knows how to win.
Having recently returned to Gisborne after over 20 years in Wellington, the 1996 senior women’s club champion at the Park was the star of The Real Estate Agents Poverty Bay women’s Christmas open tournament last Wednesday.
Miller fired 99-33-66, for 44 points, to win the Stableford.
As the Awapuni Links course dries out, scoring has warmed up accordingly. Anne Gemmell was second on 42 points - her 94-26-68 her best round in over two years - followed by Marg Lane (41), Mahia’s Viv Kyle (41) and Te Puia Hot Springs’ Hiria McClutchie (40).
Suzy Gardner topped the 9-hole Stableford with a personal-best 46-17-29, for 26 points.
Stephen Francks returned to the 70s on Saturday.
It was flair rather than flares as Francks won the Division 1 men’s Stableford with 77-10-67, for 41 points. His 14-par round was his first in the 70s since a 78 in February.
Waka Donnelly’s card resembled a scene out of a famous Alfred Hitchcock movie on Sunday. Seven birdies featured in his Division 1 Men’s Stableford-winning 4-under par 68-+1-69 for 39 points, including the jackpot of two twos.
One of those twos - on the sixth hole - had his “Sunday School” cohorts laughing. The sixth is ranked the 18th stroke hole on the course, meaning Donnelly got just two points for a birdie.
A special mention to Hayden Keast, who broke par for the first time on Sunday. Keast had five birdies in his 2-under 70 off the blue tees.
SUNDAY - Men’s Stableford, Division 1: W. Donnelly 39, C. Taewa 38, R. Gibson 37, B. Colbert 36, C. Simpson 36, C. Carmody 36, K. Marshall 36.
Division 2: M. McMenamin 39, P. Rickard 37, A. Lawler 35.
Twos: W. Donnelly 2, M. Norman, A. White, P. Rickard
Nearest to pin: W. Donnelly.
Jackpot: W. Donnelly.
SATURDAY - Men’s Stableford, Division 1: S. Francks 41, P. Jefferson 36, M. Callaghan 36.
Division 2: K. Marshall 40, B. Allen 40.
Twos: R. Foon.
Nearest to pin: C. Simpson.
THURSDAY (Nov 13) - Men’s Stableford, Division 1: P. Simmonds 41, G. Udall 39, C. Poole 38, M. Lewin 37, N. Mackie 37, A. White 36.
Division 2: Reid Fletcher 40, M. Dodgshun 38, K. Goldsmith 38, P. Humphries 36.
Nearest to pin: M. Dodgshun.
WEDNESDAY (Nov 12) - The Real Estate Agents Sarah Eriksen and Ben Robertson women’s Christmas tournament, 18-hole Stableford: W. Miller 44, A, Gemmell 42, M. Lane 41, V. Kyle 41, H. McClutchie 40, H. Miratana 39, J. Utting 39, V. Fletcher 38, M. Allan 37, D. Sherratt 37, R. Dymock 37, R. Taewa 36, K. White 35, T. Lewis 35, J. Steele 35.
9-hole Stableford: S. Gardner 26, S. McLaughlin 20, R. Dymock 20, L. Daniels 19, V. Meade 19, J, Newman 19, R. Pettigrew 19, B. Dickinson 18.
Approaches: L. Holmberg, O. Thompson, D. Sherratt, L. Fletcher, R. Dymock.
Longest putt on 5: A. Gemmell.
Twos: S. Gardner.
COMING UP: SUNDAY, December 14, Taste One/First Light Frozen The Hams Christmas Open, men’s and women’s Stableford, 40 hams to be won, first paid 144 entries at the pro shop, assemble at 9am for 9.30am shotgun start.
Sue Maisey lived up to the old saying “the cream rises to the top” in winning the Park ladies’ shootout final on Saturday.
In Maisey’s case, it rose all the way from the bottom.
Maisey was bottom qualifier for the 14-woman shootout which saw one player eliminated each hole until one remained.
This year’s final started on the sixth hole where Maisey lost her ball off the tee, but survived.
Jacque Akuhata-Nickerson was first to go, followed by Min Vette (7th), top qualifier Jean Foot (8th), Di Webb (9th) and Kath Papuni (10th) after a putt-off with life member “Aunty” Shirl Paku. Pat Johansen (11th) went next and a tiddler putt miss by Kino White ended her hopes on 12.
Paku fell on 13, Carney Pipi self-destructed on 14, Karen Hay accidentally hit the eject button on 15, Tai Aramakutu ordered a goneburger on 16 and Tracey Veronica Ford stood on a landmine on 17.
That left Jo Kerr, off an 8-handicap, and Maisey, on 26, to decide the title, and Maisey prevailed.
Referee John White said it was “a brilliant” day although he was forced to hand out “13 yellow cards and two reds”.
“I won’t name names, but Pat and Di were carded quite regularly.”
A meal and drinks followed on the 19th, where everyone won.
THURSDAY (Nov 13) - Novus Glass twilight Stableford, Division 1: M. Bond 22.
Division 2: S. Rolls 23, L. Vette 22.
Long drive: J. Collier Jnr.
Nearest the pin: A. Pahina.
Birdie board (18th hole): J. Brown, J. Devery, S. Rolls.
Monkey on the back: L. Waitoa.
Cecil Brown has had some hot rounds in his golfing time, but Sunday’s performance may well be the hottest.
Brown won the Division 2 men’s Stableford with a stunning 82-20-62, featuring nines of 44, 38.
It was his best score since an 81-20-61 in November 2019.
Brown’s efforts overshadowed other impressive displays - Ben Cameron winning Division 1 with 77-13-64; Rocky Pardoe finishing second in Division 2 with a 79-15-64 highlighted by an eagle-3 on the first hole; and Charlie Holland winning the women’s net with 95-29-66.
SUNDAY - Men’s net, Division 1: B. Cameron 64, J. Priestley 66, T. Brodie 67, G. Brown 69, H. Harris 69.
Division 2: C. Brown 60, R. Pardoe 64, B. Croskery 65, M. Owen 67, P. Johnston 70.
Women’s net: C. Holland 66, F. Tupara 67, S. Gray 67.
Jackpot: S. Gray (2 on the 12th).
FRIDAY - Meat pack 9-hole Stableford, Division 1: A. Hindmarsh 20, G. Brown 19, T. Brodie 18, T. Hindmarsh 17, W. Brown 17, M. Owen 17.
Division 2: P. Tinnelly 23, S. Helm 22, M. White 21, H. Humble 20, G. Tattersfield 20, R. Evans 20.
Ike Ruru and Ella Wynyard warmed up for this Saturday’s Waikohu Christmas Cheer tournament with victories on Sunday.
Ruru ended along run of century scores in emphatic style in winning the men’s Stableford with 95-28-67, for 39 points.
Wynyard won the women’s Stableford with 89-17-72, for 36.
SUNDAY - Men’s Stableford: I. Ruru 39, B. Crawshaw 38, R. Reeves 36, K. Ruru 35.
Women’s Stableford: E. Wynyard 36, C. Te Rito 35, T. Rutene 34, Andrea Reeves 33.
Twos: C. Te Rito.
COMING UP: SATURDAY, Waikohu Christmas Cheer tournament, 11am tee-off.
The Tolaga Bay Xmas Hams tournament is being held on Sunday, November 23. Individual and Canadian foursomes sections. 9am and 12 noon tee-offs. Inquiries to Murray Yates 0220943728.