Mahunga juniors on a roll

By Maurice O'Reilly
The highlight at Mahunga at the moment is the way the Junior Pennants team is going. Last Sunday saw the Juniors play Masterton 2 at Mahunga and the result was a comprehensive win by Mahunga by 179 points to 92.
It is great to see these young golfers doing so well particularly with a couple of new comers to the team this year and a novice in Jake Gibbs who is in his first season of golf.
It was Jake who led the way again this week with 47 points, closely followed by Whatarangi Graham with 46 points. Jake Paulsen chimed in with 44 points and Matthew Biel rounded out a top team effort with 42 points.
This week sees a top of the table clash with Carterton for the Juniors, and on their home track I am picking that the Mahunga Juniors will atone for their first round and only loss to date, and turn the tables on Carterton.
Saturday saw the course closed to members for the Mico Tournament which from all reports was another resounding success. Sunday saw the wind being a big factor but you wouldn't think so looking at the scoring. The ladies played the first round of the Combined Committee and Francis stablefords. First was Anita Karaitiana with 42 points, followed by Janet Shaw and Jean Bayly locked together on 40 points.
Sunday was Dove Trophy qualifying for the men and a medal round for the club competition. In the club competition, first in group 1 was Alf Puhara with a nett 62 and he was well clear of Anita Karaitiana with a nett 67. Raymond Cocks and Fred Brittain were next with nett 68. In group 2 Ray Loader was again in form and led the way with an impressive nett 60, followed by Kingi Ruhe with a nett 63, Jimmy Munn with a nett 65 and Greg Granich a nett 69. Lukies Lucky Last was taken by visitor Syd Hikawai with a nett 83 but I am sure he will be back for another go.
Twos were scored by Alf Puhara, Ray Loader, Jeremy Harp, Bruce Herangi, Kevin May and Bill Graham. Jimmy Munn played two great shots to take the Solway Pie Shop nearest the pin on no. 1. Roger Hoar took no. 3, Jeremy Harp no. 6, Raymond Cocks Solway Butchery no. 8, Lance Duckett Progressive Engineering no. 10 and Ray Loader no. 17. Good to see the nearest the pins being shared around a bit this week.
On Tuesday the Veterans had a visit from Dannevirke vets but it was the locals who dominated the results in the stableford round. First in group 1 for the men was Bill Graham with 41 points - could the handicapper please take note. Ted Gard back from his tour of the mainland was next with 39 points, followed by Fred Brittain with 38, Peter Campbell with 37 and visitor Ron Hell with 36 points. In group 2, and this is another one for the handicapper to note, first was Bill Christiansen with a haul of 48 points.
There is plenty of run out there at the moment and Bill obviously took the shortest route, down the middle.
Second was Gordon Campbell with 43 points follwed by Syd Whittington and Wayne Furness with 40 points, and Len Christall on 39. In the ladies groups again Mahunga was dominant.
First in group 1 was Janet Campbell with 42 points, just pipping visitor Vera webster with 41 points. Mei Hakaraia was 3rd with 39 points. In group 2 Betty Loader came out on top with 42 points from Noeline McGovern with 40 points and Susan Christall with 35.
Nearest to the pins for the ladies went to Janet Campbell on no. 3 and Betty Loader on no. 6. In the mens nearest the pins the visitors excelled with Jim Roche taking no. 6 and J Bennett taking no. 7. Next week the vets play a stableford round.
On Saturday the men play the first round matches in the Dove Trophy, while the ladies have the second round of their nett aggregate. The club competition is a stableford round. Sunday sees two teams playing in Committee Day at Carterton, the men having the first round of the Clarke Rosebowl, and the ladies a free day. The club competition is a par round.