POVERTY Bay-East Coast headed north yesterday to defend the Booth Shield junior interprovincial handicap title.
The Shield is being held for the first time in its 56-year history at the Whangaroa course in Mangonui in the far north.
An eight-strong team are flying the flag for PBEC, who have a proud history in the tournament – the only net mixed teams’ handicap event of its kind in the country.
The team comprise five boys — Reef Pohatu, brothers DJ and Justin Baty, Jacob Colbert and Travis Mitchell – and three girls — Skylah Pohatu, sister Jett Pohatu and Anahera Stills-Hindmarsh.
Managers are Mana and Kelly Pohatu – the parents of Jett, Skylah and Reef.
They will take into the tournament the memory of the late Jaymee Watson. A member of last year’s winning team at the Riverside course in Hamilton, Watson died tragically in an accident in May.
The Shield holds a special place in PBEC golf, as it was formed by stalwarts Jim and Nan Booth in 1961 as a tournament which brings together girl and boy players in a team format.
Many players who have competed at the Shield over the years have gone on to become top amateur players and professionals.
Second-generation Shield players are also coming through.
Jo Kerr, Jean Foot and Mihi Marino took the gross honours in the Northern Zone women’s champion of champions at Poverty Bay Golf Club on Wednesday.
Kerr, a member of Poverty Bay and Gisborne Park, won the senior women’s 36-hole gross with a 176 (91, 85) total.
Mahia’s Alison Maru was second on 186 (86, 100).
Park member Jean Foot won the intermediate division with 185 (92, 93), with Poverty Bay’s Sally Spence second on 193 (95, 98).
Park’s Marino comfortably won the junior 18-hole gross with 98 from Mahia’s Colleen Wesche (120).
Other results — Past champions’ stableford: Viv Bell (Poverty Bay) 40, Ishbel McKinnon (PB) 40, Vicki Fraser (PB) 40.
Twos: J Foot, V Bell.
Approaches: A Maru, V Bell.
HANDICAP golf proved good enough for Hemi Tahuri to win the overall net at the Fiordland Lobster Mainfreight Mahia men’s open tournament over the weekend.
Wairoa member Tahuri shot 92, 93 off a 21-handicap to win the top prize with an overall net of 143 on the Mahia course.
The gross scoring was modest as well. Marton member Darin Arnott posted the best gross of the tournament, 156 (79, 77) to pip home-course player Pete Bremner (78, 79) by one shot.
Mahia stalwart Frank Daley took home the major spot prize of a travel voucher while Wayne Wesche won the Charlie Austin prize for best net by a local.
Results — Overall 36-hole net: H Tahuri.
Charlie Austin prize: Wayne Wesche.
Senior division — 36-hole net: A Patterson from Wade Wesche.
Gross: D Arnott from P Bremner.
Stableford: N Amoamo from A Cassidy.
18-hole net: J Rothwell from B Morrissey.
Intermediate division — 36-hole net: S Chatfield from B Fraser.
Gross: K Field from D Read.
Stableford: C Beattie from R Grace.
18-hole net: D Mettrick from S Fisher.
Junior division — 36-hole net: M Fergusson from M Birrell.
Gross: R Nichol from B McEarchan.
Stableford: J Geary from K Solomon.
18-hole net: A Steel from R Horsefield.
Team stableford event on Saturday: K Field/D Arnott/D Oliver/D Green on c/b.
Team event on Sunday: M Fergusson/D Arnott.
Long drives, Saturday: R Foon, L Foster, M Lunny.
Sunday: G Clapham, C Wesche, G Watson.
Approaches, Saturday: R Foon, W Morrow, D Atkins.
Sunday: B Eaglesome, H Bremner, B Tuoro.
Mainfreight travel voucher: F Daley.
Twos: A Patterson 2, C Beattie 2, D Owen, B Maher, M Rosacker, B Fraser, R Nichol, D Atkins, Glen Steenson, N Amoamo, T Green, H Bremner.