Reedy helps PBEC to a draw

HANGING IN THERE: Anaru Reedy put in a “hero of the day” performance for Poverty Bay-East Coast yesterday. File picture

A “hero of the day” performance from an injured Anaru Reedy inspired Poverty Bay-East Coast to a share of team honours in the opening round of the Freyberg Masters yesterday.

Reedy, nursing a right elbow injury that has severely hampered his golf in recent weeks, had two wins at the over-40s interprovincial matchplay tournament on the Timaru course.

PBEC opened the week-long annual event with a 2 ½-all team draw with Taranaki in the morning, then lost 4-1 to Hawke’s Bay in the afternoon.

It put them 11th on the 15-province leaderboard heading into today’s play.

“He was the hero of the day,” PBEC No.1 Pete Anderson said of Reedy, who battled his way to two 18th-hole victories at No.4 in the team.

Reedy was icing his elbow when The Herald spoke to him and was uncertain how much longer he would hold up.

The injury flared up several weeks ago and he went to Timaru not having been able to play a full 18 holes since October 13.

He feared he might not be able to play at all but headed south with the game plan of managing it and seeing how he went.

Team reserve Pete Stewart is on hand if it becomes too painful.

Reedy is not the only injury concern. Anderson and masters stalwart Simon Jeune had back issues heading into a week featuring eight rounds in five days.

“We’re a great advertisement for Voltaren,” Reedy joked.

PBEC targeted first-up opponents Taranaki as a good chance of a win but settled for a draw.

As well as Reedy’s roller-coaster 2-up win over Dean Baldock, No.5 David Solomann got his week off to a perfect start.

The former Gisborne man, now living in Auckland, defeated Dan Armstrong 1-up in a tight battle.

No.3 Tony Akroyd had the all-important half with Stephen McIntosh.

Anderson lost 4 and 3 to Bryan Martelletti and Jeune was beaten 2 and 1 by Aarun Langton.

Reedy saved the team whitewash with a 2-up win over Richard Baines. Anderson lost 5 and 4 to Steffan Hepburn, Akroyd lost on the 14th to Nick Radonich, Jeune lost 2 and 1 to Mark Tasker and Solomann, whose opponent David Wilkinson was 5-under the card after six holes, went down 4 and 2.

Reedy described the Timaru course as “beautiful” with “some really cool holes” including challenging par-3s and long par-4s.

PBEC were to face Wellington this morning and Northland this afternoon.