MARTINBOROUGH GOLF REPORT
BY JENNY BOYNE
The Clubs and bag barely had time to collect dust over the Summer with both Mens and Womens Interclub commencing before the Clubs official Open day this year.
The Wairarapa Women have entered a combined team in this years Lansdowne Trophy Competition under the name Masterton with players from Royal Wellington joining the team.
This is great for Womens Golf in the Wairarapa. The last few years Carterton and Martinborough have combined and prior, Masterton had for a time their own team. This will strengthen ties within clubs and ensure we have a strong and highly competitive team in 2018. Disappointedly though there are only five Teams entered in this Comp, with most now fielding composite teams.
The first round on Saturday had the gals at Boulcott Heritage Farm against Paraparaumu wins in the foursomes to Zhuoyl Hu and Pip Kirk 7/6 and Sereana Phillipps and Cheycoda Cocks 1 Up. In the singles matchplay wins to Pip Kirk 5/3, Wendy Rhodes 6/5, Sandra Petersen 1 Up and Cheycoda Cocks 1up, overall 6 to 3.
The Silver Pennant team played at Royal Wellington against Paraparaumu last Monday at Heretaunga with wins in the singles to Sandra Petersen 1 Up, Venetia Morison 3/1 and Jenny Wilkie, loving the course, her round included a birdie on the tricky 7th and five other pars, she successfully crushed her opponent 5/4. In the fourball pairing of Kris Chamberlain and Sandra Petersen and Venetia Morison and Marie Scrimshaw finished their matches all square.
The Men have posted two rounds prior to Opening day, both with home advantage. The first round against Masterton at the end of January saw the lads finishing with an impressive result 12.5 to 2.5, boosted morale as the opposition had all their guns playing. On the busy fair day they hosted Wainuiomata in the second round and the Selector was delighted with their performance winning 10.5 to 4.5. Man of the Match went to Randal Warner, the scorecard impressive, two bogeys and two birdies on the front nine and one bogey on the back to finish with a Gross73 and win his match 5/4. Big wins also to John Warner 5/4, Colin Whibley-Smith 5/4, Craig Andrews 4/3, Sheldon McNamara 3/2, Chris Ranish 2/1, Derek Stephens and his opponent had a great tussle finishing all sqaure. Fourball wins to John Warner and Bill Crook 3/2, Chris Ranish and Sheldon Mc Namara 4/2, Randal Warner and Colin Whibley Smith 3/2 and Chris Ranish 3/2 and Dean Scheaf 2 up. Narrow losses to the RD2 postie and his customer.
Opening day Ambrose on Sunday was a blast. Seventy five golfers attacked the Ambrose with vim and vigour and enjoyed some great prizes and conviviality.
The dinner was superb and the Entertainment from the Morison clan was a not to be missed or forgotten occasion .. brilliant by all accounts.
Having this man in their team gave them an edge, 1st Randal Warner, Davis Clarke, James Blundell and Emily Loughnan Nett 53.5.2nd Bill Crook, Gavin McFadyen, Rex McIntosh and Marilyn Mackenzie Nett 54.375 on a c/b to Andy Morison, Glen Schofer, Lachie Mcleod and Sue Dalton Nett 54.375 4th Guy Walmsley, Paul Harris, Neil Catherall and Karen Stephens Nett 54.625 5th Colin Whibley-Smith, John Dyckhoff, Rob McCreary and Mary Isaac with a nett 55.25 on a 8.75 handicap.