Wilson defies the odds at the Poverty Bay Open

LETHAL LEFTIE: Bruce Wilson watches the progress of an iron shot at the Poverty Bay Open yesterday. The Kinloch resident and 2013 Open champion advanced to the semifinals of the championship 16. Pictures by Paul Rickard

Bruce Wilson wasn't supposed to win the 2013 Poverty Bay men's open.

He was 59 years old, didn't hit the ball that far compared with wrinkle-free title contenders and there were all these powerhouse younger guns expected to be duking it out for the district's premier men's golf title.

That clearly didn't faze Taupo's Wilson. He won and carved out his own pieces of PB Open history as probably the first left-hander to do so and possibly the oldest champion ever.

And today, at the age of 67 — a week out from his 68th — Wilson had a shot at doing it again.

The former retiree, back working as “an agricultural contractor” and loving it, secured a spot in the last four of the Keiha Cup championship 16 on the Awapuni Links course in the style that sums up his relaxed but focused demeanour.

He beat home-course player Glenn Morley 3 and 2 in yesterday morning's first round of matchplay, then ejected second seed Craig Van Der Nagel on the same hole in the afternoon.

The affable and seemingly unflinching Wilson was 4-down after six holes against Te Puke member Van Der Nagel.

He stuck to what he does best — as his opponent proved his own worst enemy — to seal a semifinal berth against Poverty Bay head greenkeeper William Brown.

It is always a hugely busy few weeks for Brown as he fronts the preparation of the course for this annual Emerre & Hathaway-sponsored tournament featuring 112 players from all over the show.

That Brown is able to produce a sublime course — obviously with help — while competing is testament to his fortitude and skill.

Brown, who represents the Waikohu club first and foremost, eased past Tolaga Bay's Neil Hansen 3 and 2 yesterday morning and was in the clubhouse much earlier than the other quarterfinal contenders after blitzing Poverty Bay's Mark Jefferson 8 and 7.

Today's other semi pits reigning champion Anaru Reedy against Electrinet Park clubmate Tony Akroyd, meaning all four semifinalists have tasted PB Open success.

Akroyd eliminated two other former PB Open victors yesterday — two-time winner Andrew Higham (Te Puia Springs) 4 and 2 in the morning and 1995 champion David Solomann (Whitford Park) on the 18th in the afternoon.

Reedy, looking to win a second PB Open in the same year — the 2021 edition was postponed to March of this year because of Covid — beat seven-time Open champ Waka Donnelly (Napier) 2 and 1 in the quarterfinals.

Special mention must be made of Reedy's first-round scalp Tim Mackie.

The 71-year-old Waipukurau member, who has been playing at the PB Open for at least five decades, is probably the oldest to make the top 16 in the 91-year history of the Open. The 9-handicapper gave +2 handicapper Reedy a good run for his money before losing on the 16th.

Other performances of note yesterday were Jefferson's 2 and 1 win over Simon Jeune and Solomann coming from 3-down to beat Peter Kerekere with a birdie on the 18th.