Golf: Geary and Ropiha snare national foursomes title with one shot

New Zealand representatives Josh Geary and Troy Ropiha held on to win the foursomes title by one shot at the national amateur men's golf championship in Christchurch yesterday. Geary, of Mt Maunganui, and New Plymouth's Ropiha put together a scratchy second-round 76 to hold off Canterbury's John Bae and Nigel Davis at Coringa Country Club. An opening five-under 68 gave them a three-shot buffer at halfway. After two bogesy in the final five holes, they needed a par at the last. Geary hit a fine short iron to 200cm of the pin. Ropiha missed the birdie, but return putt was a formality for Geary.

The pair finished on two-under 144, ahead of Bae and Davis, with another Canterbury pair, Karl Mariu and Jason Sincock, third on 148.

That was one ahead of the best of the Australians, Scott Arnold and Tim Stewart. Bae and Davis, starting from the 10th tee in the second round, turned in two-under 34 and improved to four-under through 13 after birdies at the first and fourth holes.

Their title challenge nosedived due to two three-putts and dropped shots at the par-three fifth and seventh holes before they signed for a 71. Geary and Ropiha eagled the 10th, their first hole, in the first round.

Four birdies followed in their opening 68 on the 6497m course, with a lone bogey coming at the par-four 11th.

- NZPA