The Auckland Golf Club continued its decade-long domination of the Bissett Shield, the premier interclub trophy, when their 12-man team led by former New Zealand Amateur champion Chris Johns beat Akarana 8-4 in the final at Pukekohe yesterday.
It was Auckland's sixth outright or shared win in the Bissett Shield
since 1995. Johns, who flew back from Sydney, where he now lives, has been in five of those teams while former Eisenhower Trophy player Michael Barltrop has been there for all six.
Both were winners yesterday. Johns was fast out of the blocks against Brent Fabish in the number one match, quickly went two under par, and won 5 and 4.
Barltrop recovered from an early one hole deficit early before prevailing one up over Mark Pirihi in the battle of the number twos.
It was one of eight matches in the final decided on the 17th or 18th holes.
Superior chipping and putting by Auckland players was the difference in the crucial closing holes. Neil Danby, Jeremy Williamson, Brent Patterson, Fraser Wilkin and Andrew Webber all made clutch putts to either halve or win matches on the last two holes. Simon Joyce did even better chipping in for eagle on the 18th hole from 50m to beat Tony Simpson one up.
Barltrop was delighted with his team's success.
Akarana, the top qualifiers, were attempting to win the Bissett Shield for the first time since 1961. The club had some consolation when their handicap team won the Interclub A division also against Auckland.
Pakuranga won the Presidents division with a 7-5 win over Howick and they will replace Maungakiekie in the Bissett Shield next year.
