Gillespie wins title in playoff

Nick Gillespie is congratulated by Grant Moorhead after their sudden death playoff on the 18th hole. 140913WCSMGOLF5

After successive years of being the bridesmaid, ex-Wanganui golfer Nick Gillespie finally claimed the piece of home silverware he coveted after a nailbiting playoff at the Pin High/Craigs Wanganui Pro-Am on Saturday afternoon.

Going into the second round of 18-holes at the Belmont Links, Gillespie was the narrow overnight leader from veteran Grant Moorhead of New Plymouth after a round of 67 on Friday.

Gillespie said he "had an idea" during the day, which was played in very difficult conditions of cold and blustery wind, that Moorhead was sticking close to his heels and so was quite prepared to go back out for the sudden death playoff on the 18th hole.

In his report of the event, PGA NZ national events manager Jim Clelland said Gillespie had been in serious danger of dropping right out when he made a double-bogey on his 15th hole which was hole 5 on the course.

"He then bogeyed the next two also before making a great eagle on his last hole, the par five 8th, for his score of 72.

"In contrast, Moorhead was his usual rock steady self, parring his last six holes for a round of 71."

All of the 90 or so amateur and 36 pro golfers had found the day's conditions extremely difficult, particularly the holes coming back into the wind in front of the Wanganui club house.

If Gillespie had any nerves for the playoff around 3.45pm, he decided to walk them off as the lack of an immediate golf cart being available saw him decide to stroll down to the tee while Moorhead waited for transportation.

A number of players and supporters came out to watch the deciding playoff hole from the hill above the 18th, including Gillespie's father and organising committee member Stu Gillespie.

"Moorhead was blocked out a little with his tee shot and could only lay up to about 50 metres out. Gillespie was on the green in two," said Clelland.

"Moorhead pitched up to about four metres and Gillespie two putted for his par, [while] Moorhead's putt finished just behind the hole."

While the distance of Gillespie's final putt to win would have been straightforward on a normal day, he showed the good composure of a professional given the circumstances and the breeze.

"I had the same putt this morning so it wasn't so bad," he said afterwards.

"It [conditions] wasn't so bad yesterday but the wind kicked up today."

Having come runner-up in both 2011 and 2012, Gillespie acknowledged with a grin that it was very satisfying to finally win the Pro Am on his former home course.

Third place was shared by Wellington's Mark Brown after rounds of 71 and 69 and New Plymouth's Dominic Barson (70 70).

Taupo's Troy Ropiha, last year's winner and also having been successful at Wanganui Opens before, finished back in a tie for fifth with Mount Maunganui's Josh Geary.

Leading scores

139 Nick Gillespie (Wellington) 67 72 in playoff; 139 Grant Moorhead (New Plymouth) 68 71

140 Dominic Barson (New Plymouth) 70 70, Mark Brown (Wellington) 71 69

142 Josh Geary (Mount Maunganui) 69 73, Troy Ropiha (Taupo) 70 72

143 David Klein (Te Anau) 70 73, Daniel Pearce (Ashburton) 71 72, Mark Purser (Hamilton) 70 73, Peter Spearman-Burn (Wellington) 71 72.