Rebecca Hopper takes a shot in near torrential rain conditions for the Wanganui Golf Open on Sunday morning.
Rebecca Hopper takes a shot in near torrential rain conditions for the Wanganui Golf Open on Sunday morning.
The Sunday morning round of the Ricoh Wanganui Golf Open almost required snorkels more than 9-irons, but despite the heavy rain that bucketed the course, organisers were able to crown their champions for 2017.
Dale Cobb, Wanganui Golf Club's director of golf and facilities, said structuring the day's play wasa difficult decision, made harder by the unpredictable rain.
"However, we persevered and made the original decision to delay the start to 9am when we could make further decision to either postpone or modify the format to 18 holes instead of 36."
That ultimately proved the case, after organisers were able to send 83 hardy competitors out at 9.30am to try and play through the wet.
"One lengthy shower and five and a half hours later, we were all in the clubhouse acknowledging and recognising our 2017 Open Champions"
Teenaged representative player Tara Raj continues to shine no matter what the weather as she won the Ladies Division title for the third straight year, finishing two and three shots clear of her Manawatu-Wanganui team mates Brydie Hodge (Levin) and Mudra Lakhani (Manawatu).
Pahiatua's Lisa Cotton had the best Nett total.
Representing the Castlecliff Golf Club, Manawatu-Wanganui representative Hayden Ring won the Division 1 Men's title, two shots clear of Palmerston North's Junior Tatana who won a share of the championship last year.
Manawatu-based golfers filled out the rest of the Top 5, while Paraparaumu Beach's Caerwyn Ross had the best Nett.
Wanganui club member Keith Johnson won back-to-back Division 2 Men's titles, one shot clear of Apiti Golf Club's Boy Manunui, while the best Nett belonged to local Mark Matson.
Cobb wished to thank tournament sponsors Stuart Thornton and Mike Wildermoth from the Whanganui and Taranaki branches of Ricoh, which has had an association with the golf club going back ten years.
Tara Raj and Hayden Read stand with the Ricoh sponsors Stuart Thornton and Mike Wildermoth after their Wanganui Open championship wins. Photo by Dilan Raj.
Results
Men's Division 1 - Gross: 1. Hayden Ring (Castlecliff) 71; 2. Junior Tatana (Palmerston North) 73; 3. Guy Perry (Manawatu) 74; 4. Regan Cording (Palmerston North) 75; 5. Rhys Watkins (Manawatu) 76. Nett: 1. Caerwyn Ross (Paraparaumu Beach) 68; 2. Craig Osman (Wanganui) 71; 3. Ross Geary (Rangatira) 72; 4. Rick Harding (Wanganui) 73; 5. Mike Arnott (Wanganui) 75; 6. Dave Wray (Rangitikei) 76. Two's: Junior Tatana 2, Kevin Hokopaura 2, Rick Harding, Regan Cording, Ross Geary, Boy Manunui.
Men's Division 2 - Gross: 1. Keith Johnson (Wanganui) 80; 2. Boy Manunui (Apiti) 81; 3. Lachlan Hood (Manawatu) 83. Nett: 1. Mark Matson (Wanganui) 70; 2. Wayne Luxton (Wanganui) 72; 3. Remy Early (Feilding) 72; 4. Steven Robinson (Wanganui) 72; 5. Raj Gaundan (Shandon) 73; 6. Cameron Giddens (Levin) 75; 7. David Giddens (Levin) 75.
