Unsung heroes emerge in Tairāwhiti men’s golf pennants

Poverty Bay skipper Hayden Keast has been leading by example in this year's Tairāwhiti men's interclub pennants. His unbeaten record of six wins and one half have helped his side to the top of the table with one round to go before the playoffs. Poverty Bay host round 11 and the positional semi-finals on Sunday. Keast goes in on the back of making an eagle on the last and shooting 71 to beat good mate and Poverty Bay vice-captain Reece Witters in their annual Waiteata Wekas challenge on their home course. Photo / Paul Rickard

Anthony Pahina and Kymani Tamatea won’t be lifting the Tairāwhiti interclub golf pennants trophy on May 24.

But they can take personal satisfaction from the roles they have played and the respect earned in the biggest men’s pennants series in its history.

Twelve-year-old Tamatea is a member of the inaugural Tairāwhiti Development squad who, while sitting bottom of the 12-team table, have exceeded expectations.

Tamatea was at No 1 in his four-man team in rounds 9 and 10 hosted by Waikohu on Saturday, and produced one of their highlights.

Two-down with four holes to play against seasoned Tolaga Bay campaigner Bruce Yates, Tamatea won three holes in a row, but lost the last and the honours were shared.

Tamatea was miffed rather than chuffed, a reflection of the standard bar gradually lifting among the Shannon Ratima-run Development crew.

That and their general contribution have been duly noted.

“The juniors have brought the spirit of the game back to the Oligoi [Oligoi Jug, the former name of the pennants]. What a neat bunch of kids,” a senior player told the Gisborne Herald.

At the other end of the age spectrum, 62-year-old Pahina, known to many as “Punga”, is building a reputation as a silent assassin.

At Waikohu, his morning half helped his KHG Electrinet Park (2) team to an eyebrow-raising 4-all draw with Park (1). He then won his afternoon match on the 18th as Park (2) tied 4-each with Pātutahi Black.

Underestimate him at your peril, a warning underlined by his last four matches, which have all gone to the 18th – a win, two halves and a loss to Pātutahi young gun Marcus Gray, who has won seven from eight so far.

At the pointy end of the table, the Hayden Keast-captained Poverty Bay (62 points) sealed their spot in the top four semi-finals last weekend, but face the possibility of their opposition being Poverty Bay 2 (48pts), who are lying fourth, four points ahead of fifth-placed Te Puia Hot Springs with one round of the round-robin to go.

That round is at Poverty Bay’s Awapuni Links on Sunday morning, followed by positional semifinals in the afternoon.

Defending champions Pātutahi Blue (55pts) have also sealed a top-four berth, while Tolaga Bay 1 (52) are third and need only one point against Te Puia Springs in round 11 to advance.

Several permutations are in the mix. All will be revealed by lunchtime.

Meanwhile, other memorable moments from the Waikohu rounds included Mike Christophers (Waikohu) beating brother Craig Christophers (Park 1); former Poverty Bay, Manawatu and Taranaki first-class rugby representative Adrian Wyrill (Waikohu) notching a win; Anaru Reedy (PB) inflicting the first loss of the series for Hukanui Brown (Pātutahi Blue); and Rongo Pomana (Tolaga Bay 2) defeating Pat Butler (PB2) in the battle of the vets.

Tairāwhiti pennants results, round 9

Pātutahi Blue 8 Waikohu 0 (Pātutahi names first): Hukanui Brown def Peter Bremner 2 and 1; Eddie Brown Jnr def Terry Reeves 2 and 1; Marcus Gray def Mike Christophers 4 and 3; Watene Brown def Richard Reeves 3 and 1.

Poverty Bay 6 Pātutahi Jedi 2: Anaru Reedy def Neil Hansen 2-up; Hayden Keast and Dwayne Russell halved; Daniel Collier def Lyall Anania 4 and 3; Simon Jeune and Hamish Harris halved.

KHG Electrinet Park (1) 4 KHG Electrinet Park (2) 4: Matt Henwood def Selwyn Peneha 3 and 1; Ian Loffler and Anthony Pahina halved; Craig Christophers lost to Reuben Maynard 2 and 1; Bailey Matoe and John Collier Jnr halved.

Tolaga Bay (1) 5 Tairāwhiti Development 3: Bruce Yates and Kymani Tamatea halved; Brad Reynolds def Shannon Ratima 6 and 5; Taine Lincoln lost to Mikaera Aurupa 6 and 5; Tim Adamson def Leighton Aupouri 8 and 7.

Pātutahi Black 8 Te Puia Hot Springs 0: Regan Hindmarsh def Wade Wesche 6 and 5; Reef Pohatu def Tom Donovan; Rios Moleta def Makau Phipps 1-up; Reuben Mottart def Ian Logan 1-up.

Poverty Bay (2) 6 Tolaga Bay (2) 2: Pete Anderson def Wiremu Aupouri 6 and 5; Craig Palmer def BJ Sidney 4 and 3; Peter Stewart def Will Yates 3 and 1; Pat Butler lost to Rongo Pomana 4 and 3.

ROUND 10

Poverty Bay 6 Pātutahi Blue 2: Anaru Reedy def Hukanui Brown 6 and 5; Hayden Keast def Eddie Brown Jnr 4 and 2; Dan Collier lost to Marcus Gray 2 and 1; Tony Akroyd def Watene Brown 5 and 3.

Waikohu 6 KHG Electrinet Park (1) 2: Peter Bremner def Matt Henwood 3 and 2; Terry Reeves lost to Ian Loffler 5 and 4; Mike Christophers def Craig Christophers 3 and 1; Adrian Wyrill def Bailey Matoe 2 and 1.

Pātutahi Jedi 8 Tairāwhiti Development 0: Dwayne Russell def Mikaera Aurupa 5 and 4; Lyall Anania def Leighton Aupouri 3 and 2; Hamish Harris def Kymani Tamatea 5 and 4; Korban Harrison-Allen def Rua Ratima 5 and 4.

KHG Electrinet Park (2) 4 Pātutahi Black 4: Selwyn Peneha and Regan Hindmarsh halved; Anthony Pahina def Reef Pohatu 1-up; Reuben Maynard lost to Rios Moleta 3 and 2; John Collier Jnr and Reuben Mottart halved.

Tolaga Bay (1) 8 Tolaga Bay (2) 0: Bruce Yates def Wiremu Aupouri 4 and 3; Brad Reynolds def BJ Sidney 6 and 5; Taine Lincoln def Will Yates 3 and 2; Tim Adamson def Rongo Pomana 3 and 2.

Te Puia Hot Springs 4 Poverty Bay (2) 4: Wade Wesche def Pete Anderson 1-up; Tom Donovan lost to Craig Palmer 6 and 5; Ian Logan lost to Peter Stewart 5 and 3; Makau Phipps def Pat Butler 6 and 4.

Overall points: Poverty Bay 62, Pātutahi Blue 55, Tolaga Bay (1) 52, Poverty Bay (2) 48, Te Puia Hot Springs 44, Pātutahi Black 41, KHG Electrinet Park (1) 41, Pātutahi Jedi 38, Waikohu 30, KHG Electrinet Park (2) 26, Tolaga Bay (2) 25, Tairāwhiti Development 18.