By BOB PEARCE
Wendy Hawkes fired a six-iron second to within one metre of the 18th hole to clinch her fourth Auckland women's championship at Middlemore yesterday.
The conceded birdie gave her a two-up margin over La Nahi, of Onewhero, who had fought back from three down with three to play.
Nahi had
won the 16th with a good putt after Hawkes' attempt had fallen well short.
Nahi reached the par five 17th and won it with a par after Hawkes muffed a chip into a green-side bunker and finished with a bogey.
But on the 18th, Nahi had the bigger drive but could not match Hawkes' pinpoint second and conceded after her long birdie attempt failed.
Hawkes, who with twin sister Angela learned her golf at Titirangi, is back in Auckland after spending the last few years in Otago.
The twins will still play for Otago in the interprovincial teams tournament at North Shore next month.
Angela Hawkes topped the qualifiers on Monday with rounds of 76 and 75 but fell in the second round to Brigit Holford (Grange).
Nahi had been under the card in beating Rotorua youngster Penny Newbrook in the quarter-finals and Holford in the semis. But she was always battling in the final.
Nahi is likely to be No 1 for the Auckland team, which will also include the experienced Holford and three teenagers, Yu Jin Bang (Titirangi), Enu Chung (Manukau) and Keun Ji Lim (Titirangi).
Chung played last year as a 12-year-old.
