Another Poverty Bay Women’s Golf Open title to McDonald

Tessa McDonald collected her fourth Poverty Bay Women's Open title on her home Awapuni Links course yesterday. McDonald beat Omanu's Debbie Noble 4 and 3 in the division 1 matchplay final.

Tessa McDonald had no time to celebrate her Poverty Bay Women’s Open victory on the Awapuni Links course yesterday.

Not long after she won the FA McFadyen-presented trophy as the division 1 (top 8) matchplay winner, McDonald was putting in her apologies for her absence from the prizegiving due to work commitments.

Apology was accepted. Organisers were happy enough to have such a quality player competing at the Emerre & Hathaway-sponsored two-day tournament featuring 58 players - 40 of those entering the matchplay competition held over five groups of eight.

McDonald was the top seed and red-hot favourite to collect her fourth McFadyen trophy - mother Karen McDonald having also won it in 2014 and 2017.

Long-time Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay representative Tessa lived up to her No 1 status with a 4 and 3 defeat of Omanu Golf Club member Debbie Noble in yesterday morning’s final.

McDonald looked set to wrap it up early at 5-up after eight holes and 2-under the card. To her credit, Noble fought gamely and a birdie on the ninth put her 4-down at the turn.

A couple of uncharacteristic mistakes by McDonald opened the door a little for Noble, but she soon slammed it shut for a comfortable victory.

McDonald cruised through day 1, beating Ōpōtiki’s Sarndra Tiopira and Electrinet Park’s Karen Hay on the same hole - the 13th.

In other finals, Chrissie Courtman (Hamilton) beat Megan Allen (Poverty Bay) in the Sandown Trophy division 2; Maxine Francois (PB) beat Paula Kane (Royal Auckland and Grange) in the Awapuni Trophy division 3; Kirsty Shaw (PB) beat Viv Bell (PB) in the Waikanae Trophy division 4; and Rachel Young (Putaruru) beat Robyn Ngatai (Te Puia Hot Springs) in the Nick’s Head division 5.