Jim Munn adds to remarkable record

A rare feat was achieved at Mahunga over the week-end, when Jim Munn played a round on Saturday in which his gross score was three strokes less than his age. That round was good enough for him to score 49 points in the stableford round to convincingly have the best score of the day.
Jim Munn has been close to achieving the feat several times in recent years, but this is the first time that he has done so. But apart from that, he has also had a remarkable run of other golfing feats, such as scoring three holes in one since his eightieth birthday.
Runner up to Jim Munn in the second group in Saturday's stableford round was David O'Reilly, while Trish Gallon got the nod of a quite big group that finished on 40 points to take the last place in the prize list.
Rodney Flood took out the top group with his score of 41 points, which was one ahead of Bruce Herangi, who had to console himself with two holes in two and the "bird's nest", though that was struck last week by third place getter Rose Alexander, who scored 39 points. Lukies Lucky Last went to Jo Hargood with 23 points, but there were some other players who only just headed her off.
The nearest to the pins seemed to be a David O'Reilly benefit, with that player taking out the Solway Lie Shop one on the first hole, as well as the ones on the sixth and seventeenth holes. Bryan Dick took out the Solway Butchery one on the eighth hole, and Alf Puhara the one on the third hole and Evelyn Munn the tenth.
Apart from Bruce Herangi, Rose Alexander, Jeremy Harp, Evelyn Munn and David O'Reilly scored holes in two.
Jim Munn's round on Saturday was a nett 59, a score that only used to be recorded in four ball best ball rounds, but this year there has been a spate of them. Last Thursday, Michelle Coley had a 59 nett in the women's competition, and I think that that brings the number of sub 60 nett rounds for the year to 5.
Sunday's competition was another stableford round, and again it was a Munn who had a share of the honours. This time it was Evelyn Munn who tied Colin McAuley in the second group with 46 points each, while Matthew Biel was third with 42 points.
Paul Haxton took out the top group with his total of 43 points, with Laurence Butler the runner up on 41 points, with Jo Hargood showing a big improvement from Saturday's round to take third place on 37 points.
On Tuesday, the veterans group played in a stableford round. Best of the women was Janet Shaw with a score of 43 points. That was three points ahead of Noeline McGovern in second place, with a gap back to Yvonne Allsworth in third place with 33 points.
Bill Christiansen was the best of the men's top group with 36 points, which was one better than Peter Campbell, with Len Christall and Jon Kopua tied for third place on 32 points. In the second group, Trevor Oliver led the way with 38 points, from Ian Gemmill and Ron Hutcheson on 36.
The women's nearest to the pins went to Evelyn Munn on the third hole and Noeline McGovern on the sixth, while the men's ones went to Bill Graham on the sixth, which he converted into the only hole in two for the day, and Len Christall on the seventh.
Next Tuesday, the veteran's group will be playing in a Canadian Foursomes round.
This coming Saturday sees the competition of the day on Saturday a par round.
Sunday will see the best performers in the Carterton, Martinborough and Mahunga Shoot Out's battling it out for the Taratahi Trophy for the winner of the Triangular final.
The Shoot Out will commence at 8.30 am. For the club members, the competition on Sunday will be a stableford round. Players starting early would be advised to start from the eighth tee up to 11.00 a.m.
It is now just under seven weeks to Easter, and already plans are well forward for the annual Easter Tournament at Mahunga. It will not be too long before the starting sheets are posted in the club house foyer.