Markman was part of a Mount contingent of about 20 players who supported the open — the only New Zealand Veteran Golfers' Association (NZVGA) tournament to go ahead this year because of Covid-19.
Poverty Bay Golf Club's carpark was full of campervans as the tournament attracted a full field of 64 men and around 20 women.
“It was well received,” Gisborne East Coast Veteran Golfers' Association chair Jon Jenner said.
“Everyone was really happy the tournament was being held.”
Jenner himself was among the trophy winners. He shot 78-8-70 on Sunday to win the Endeavour Trophy 18-hole net for players aged 55 to 69 years.
Whakatane Mick Tee carded 105-37-68 to win the Discovery Trophy net for players age 70yrs and over.
Those trophy rounds were held on Sunday. Players then went into matchplay in groups of 8.
Three locals were among the group winners. Poverty Bay's Richard Foon won Group 3, Patutahi's Garth Tattersfield Group 4 and PB's Brian Hall beat Electrinet Park's Barry Cox in the Group 7 final.
Tee completed a successful week by winning Group 8.
Visitors dominated the women's competition. Napier's Claire Tippett won the gross, NZVGA secretary Launa Seddon (a memer of Omanu) the net and Paraparaumu Beach's Agnes Hann the stableford.
Jenner paid tribute to the host club and greens staff.
“The course was unbelievable,” he said. “The way it drained (after last week's rain) on Sunday to let us play was phenomenal. The boys (greenkeepers) did a huge job.”
Many of the vets will be returning to Gisborne in December for the national vets tournament featuring a field of 96 men and 40 women.
Jenner said despite the Covid-19 situation, the tournament was still all-go but would be held under strict guidelines.
