GOLF
Waitangi
Luke Brown took top honours in the annual James Busby Plate/ Golf Northland Matchplay Championships at Waitangi on Sunday.
Brown eventually won the final on the 18th over Kaitaia's Sean Masters to secure his first Northland matchplay title. A report from the event noted both players were in good form "having been part of Northland's successful under-19 and 16 teams which recently won the junior inter-provincial title in Cambridge".
The pair advanced through the quarter-finals on Saturday then the semifinals on day two, Sunday, where Masters wore down Kaitaia stablemate Brett Dormer 3/2; while Brown secured his finals berth following a fascinating and long winded semi which went all the way to the 19th before two routine putts after the eight extra holes eliminated Wellsford's Brad Bonnington.
The event featured a strong field of Northland's top senior players including the above along with Waipu's Chase McKeown, Carrington's Bob Shirley, Northland's Lee Neumann, and Alex Neely and Scott Wilson from Kerikeri.
However, recent changes to the Waitangi layout - which included the addition of new tees and lengthening of the course - made the "beautifully manicured course playing firm and fast" as much a star as the players who were faced with a variety of "incredibly challenging holes and some real birdie opportunities", as well as being helped and hindered by a strong southwesterly on Saturday where some tee shots in excess of 340 metres were hit.
Results were, Division 1: Luke Brown 1, Sean Masters 2, Brad Bonnington 3, Brett Dormer 4; Div 2: Murray Severinsen (Hawkes Bay) 1, Craig Boles (Waitangi) 2, Evan Thompson (Waitangi) 3, Darryl Birchall (Okaihau) 4; Div 3: Nick Tipene (Waitangi) 1, Charles Bark (Waitangi) 2, Gordon Morgan (Waitangi) 3, Garry Forrest (Waitangi) 4; Div 4 (55+): Wayne Taylor (Waitemata) 1, Maurice Penney (Kerikeri) 2, Peter Rhodes (Waitangi) 3, Kevin Stewart (Waitangi) 4; Div 5 (55+): Bud Sisley (Waitangi, the 87-year-old also getting special mention for walking "all 3 rounds!") 1, Mike Andrew (Waitangi) 2, Mal Maria (Pakuranga) 3, Mike Hardiman (Waitangi) 4.
Kaitaia
Results by Kaitaia golfers last week were as follows.
From last Thursday, October 4: J Gardner 41 stablefords, B Jones 41, G Morrogh 39, M Berghan, J Matthews 38, C Urlich 37, D Johns 36; and, from Saturday, October 6: B Hamilton-Smith 40, M Berghan 38, D McCulloch 35, F Smith, J Gardner 34.
The semifinal of the Eagles Trophy will be played this Saturday from 10am and sees D McCulloch vs S Yates, and C Urlich vs V Smith; with the rest of the field to follow and players to be at clubhouse at 9.30am for draw.
In other upcoming news, the annual twilight golf series will start at Ahipara on Friday, October 26 (more details forthcoming). There will also be a market day on Sunday, October 28, from 10am. The cost to book a table (inside space) was $20 or $10 for a carboot (outside space); contact Julie Yates 409-4033.
Kaitaia vets
The Kaitaia Golf Club vets reported some very good scores were returned for the weekly hit-out in overcast and dampish conditions at Ahipara on Monday. Results were, men: Kelly Brydon 34, Percy Erceg, Bill Jones 33, Brian H Smith 31, Graham Watkins, Don McCulloch 30 on countback; ladies: Val Simpson 31, Rata Masters 30, Julie Yates 28; twos Percy Erceg. Also nearest pin, No.9: Tom Watts, Nancy Gregory; Lucky draw: Joyce Switzer.
The vets' weekly report concluded by reminding of the fraternity's 25th birthday celebrations on Monday, October 29. All ex members have been urged to attend and names can be given to Bob Morrison, 408-0737.