Golf: Second strokeplay title for Brown

Luke Brown. Photo / File

Northland's Luke Brown has come away with back-to-back titles at the Bay of Islands Strokeplay Championship in Waitangi.

Recent rains made for a heavy course at the Waitangi Golf Club with conditions lengthening the course significantly and providing an advantage to the bigger hitters in the field.

Brown, a former Northland No1, entered the week in need of a big performance with the event doubling as the final senior trial for the Northland men's representative team and he delivered just that midway through last month.

Having been ranked Northland No1 at the 2012 Interprovincial, Brown signalled a return to the form that got him there, winning with a one under par total of 143, matching his winning tally from 2012.

Youngster Christian Nitsche (Whangarei) produced his first senior tournament performance of note, firing the low round of the tournament with a three under par 69 in round one to claim the halfway lead.

The 15-year-old Whangarei teen handled the pressure admirably, although he faded to second place after a second round 76.

In the Net competition, Waitangi's own Darren Markin was the winner with a score of 138.

Dave Hellen (Waitangi) got the ideal birthday present taking out the Intermediate division with a score of 173.

Hellen finished a single stroke ahead of Paul Cheesman (BOI Kerikeri), while Pita Apiata (Waitangi) was the Intermediate Net champion with a score of 149.

The Junior/D Grade title went to Eddie Prime (Kaikohe) with a score of 167.

Gordon Morgan (Waitangi) took out the net title with a score of 135.