Pro-am tournament a resounding success

The ING Masterton/Eketahuna Pro-Am Tournament, staged for the fourth time last weekend, proved to be an outstanding success. Despite a somewhat threatening weather forecast, conditions in Eketahuna on Saturday weren't at all bad, while on Sunday at Lansdowne the weather was perfect for golf with a half-hearted shower of rain arriving after all the action was over.
The weekend's activities kicked off on Friday with the draw for professionals plus the presentation by the guest celebrity, All Black assistant coach, Steve Hansen. It was an entertaining occasion with a short talk followed by a lively question and answer session. Predominant amongst the questions was the current All Black selection policy, in particular the business of team rotation. A feature of Steve's performance was the by-play between him and Sir Brian Lochore. Just where do those two sit in the All Black's administration pecking order, by the way?
The golf on Saturday was played on a country course which was a tremendous credit to the voluntary efforts of the members of a club with no more than 100 playing members. The professionals responded in kind with some fine scoring led by Alastair Sidford, who seems to have an affinity with the course, and Marcus Wheelhouse, both of whom shot 65s. Only one shot back was a quartet which included Josh Geary in his first round as a professional, Guy Penrose, Grant Moorhead and former local boy Reon Sayer.
Strangely enough, in the random draw on Friday night, Reon found himself in the Newbolds team which included his father Lance.
In the teams contest two teams, Money Managers and SMP, topped the field, each with 125 stableford points, one shot ahead of PDD Ltd with a quartet of teams back on 122.
To Masterton on Sunday and it was Marcus Wheelhouse who took the major prize, backing up his 65 with a five under the card 66 for an aggregate of 131, two shots clear of Michael Hendry and Reon Sayer. In the teams event at Lansdowne the SMP had a less than memorable day to slip down the ladder but the Money Managers four held their nerve with an aggregate of 121 giving them a total of 246 and the victory by two shots over John Griffith and Co Ltd and PDD Ltd.
Abridged Results:
Professionals:
Marcus Wheelhouse (65,66) 131 1st, Michael Hendry (67,66) 133 2nd, Reon Sayer (66,67) 133 3rd, Grant Moorhead (66,68) 134 4th, Tim Wilkinson (69,66) 135 5th, Mark Purser (67,69) 136 6th, Blair Clark (69,68) 137 7th, Scott Puddick (68,70) 138 8th, Josh Geary (66,73) 139 9th.
Teams Event:
The first prize of a Bayview Wairakei Resort Golf Trip package went to the Money Managers team of Robert Stewart, Robert Young, Barry Smith, Craig Palmer with scores of 125/121 making a total of 246. Further placings were John Griffith & Co Ltd (David Cook, Geoff McKay, Mike Falloon, Richard Best) (120/124) 244 2nd, PDD Ltd (David Stevens, Greg McKay, Innes Kennard, Christopher Judd) (124/120) 244 3rd, Alex McLeod Ltd (Alex McLeod, Goff Moorcock, Paul Fouhy, Grant Moorhead) (122,122) 244 3rd, Awatuna Rams (Brian Lochore, Alwyn Williams, Aage Terpstra, Jimmy Napier)(121/122) 243 5th, Newbolds (Nick Macdonald, Lance Sayer, Derek Macdonald, Reon Sayer) (122/119) 241 6th, Muzza's Mob (Murray Wolland, Jeff Ogg, Roger Allen, Geoff Smart)(122/118) 240 7th.
Long drives were won by Marcus Menara, Richard Best, Sereana Phillipps, Jo Bird, Jeff Tuoro, Nigel Udy, Steve Hansen and Aaron Klee, while nearest the pin awards went to Hamish Blair, Jonty Phillipson, Jeff Tuoro and Alan Williams.
The shootout competition at Eketahuna was won by Paul Fouhy while John Thwaites did best at Masterton.
Last week saw the 9 holers kick off their season with an Ambrose competition. The winning trio proved to be Rosie Wellbrock, Nolene Eastwood and Pauline McKenzie on 39 points, ahead of Anna Toovey, Jill Cameron and Ann Kite, the so-called "2 chicks and a granny" team on 42 points. It was a relatively quiet day with a number of the regulars still on holiday ? lucky them!
On Monday just on 40 Vets took part in a stableford event. Results:
Women:
Beryl Stuart 23 pts 1st, Doreen McKinlay 22 pts 2nd, Pat Tatham 21 pts 3rd.
Men Group 1:
Harry Wong 30 pts 1st, Blair Harvey 29 pts 2nd, Charles Anderson 25 pts 3rd.
Men Group 2:
David Brenkley 25 pts 1st, George McKinlay 25 pts 2nd, John Wales 24 pts 3rd.
Mick Gates was nearest the pin at the Fagan Ford 8th hole.
With Tuesday being a holiday the usual women's competition was replaced by the Margaret Wallace Trophy, a mixed combined stableford competition. The winning pair was Val Cobb and Robin Whitehead with 76 points, followed by Alan and Jenny Sadler with 74 points. As the men usually outnumber the women there is also a prize for the best men's pair, but this year there were more women than men so that prize went to the pairing of Julie Hamilton and Shirley Saunders with 76 points. The Long Drives were won by Jeff Ogg and Jan McLaren and the Nearest the Pin prizes went to Pete Jackson and Marion Long.
Next Saturday, February 10, sees the opening of the Wellington Men's interclub competition with the Lansdowne Park Division 2 team playing Te Marua at Carterton, Division 3 against Waikanae at Waikanae and Division 6 at home to Ohariu. Meanwhile the ordinary club competition gets under way with a Barney Woollard RE/MAX stableford and shootout qualifier, plus the opening round for the Challenge Shield.
Off the Fairway
There were two all women teams (not including professionals) in the Pro-Am Tournament plus a smattering of ladies in other teams. In the battle of the local professionals it was the old dog himself, Jamie McIsaac, who clearly took the honours, the highlight being a neat 69 at Lansdowne on Sunday.