Gillespie caps visit with win

Hastings Pro-Am

Golf

HE STRUGGLED reading the lie for the most part of the 18 holes but that didn't stop Nick Gillespie from claiming the $3000 cheque in Hawke's Bay yesterday.

The 24-year-old professional made it a back-to-back 2013 Pakline-Autex Hastings Pro-Am titles yesterday when he scorched his former amateur Hastings Golf Club course at Bridge Pa.

Carding a 5-under 67 yesterday the former Bay amateur and New Zealand representative followed up on Thursday's 3-under for a total of 8-under 136 in the $17,500 two-day annual tourney.

Gillespie's parents Lyn and former international cricketer father Stuart Gillespie, of Wanganui, were at the course to watch him achieve the memorable double.

"I was struggling to read the greens a little bit," he said last night but chuffed he was hitting his drives and iron shots crisply.

A birdie blitz in his last five holes put a jig in his step.

Gillespie said it was nice to have a win under his belt going into this weekend's pro-am at Gisborne from tomorrow, which will involve a round with sponsors today before taking care of business tomorrow. He was having a quiet night of dinner with his parents before driving today with a strictly professional attitude of no celebratory drinks on the agenda.

Although he will be based in Wellington, Gillespie said it was always nice to visit the Bay. "It's been a great week and people are always nice when I come here so I've really enjoyed myself."

Day one leaders Jared Pender (137) and Troy Ropiha (138) had to settle for second and third placings, respectively, while former Bay amateur Daniel Pearce blew out to 74 yesterday to finish 14th-equal on one-under 143.

Clarke Osborne matched Gillespie's 67 yesterday to finish fourth-equal with Dominic Barson and David Klein.

Former first-class cricketer Alex Tait had the best round of 66 yesterday but had to settle for seventh place on a total four-under 140.

In the eighth-equal cluster of 3-under were Waipukurau professional Pieter Zwart, Grant Moorhead and Ryan Fox.

Te Pohue's Doug Holloway was 11th equal a shot behind and Leighton James was 16th equal on one over in Hastings PGA professional Brian Doyle's class of former Bay senior men's amatuer representatives.