Upsets abound in pennants
Top-20 finish for Wilkinson
A pair of upsets has turned the A-pennants on its head after the fourth round in Taihape on Sunday.
The hosts stunned Palmerston North, while Foxton got up over Wanganui in results that defied the form guide.
Palmerston North had looked like genuine contenders to challenge perennial title favourites Manawatu.
But Taihape put a significant dent in their chances.
The club continued unbeaten run with a 61⁄2 to 5 win on Sunday.
In the foursomes, Taihape’s Koke Cashell and Ben Cribb beat Damon Burt and Adam Oriowski and Matt Thomas and Matt Booth beat Bradley Mcsherry and Scott Sutherland.
The Junior Tatana-tane North combination got one back for Palmerston North, while Mike Mcsherry and Regan Cording’s wins meant the scores were tied 2-2 heading into the singles.
Burt, Cording and Tatana all won their matches for Palmerston North, while Bradley Mcsherry finished all-square with Taihape’s Duane Dick.
But North, a Manawatuwanganui Toro representative last year, was beaten by George New Zealand golfer Tim Wilkinson has finished in a tie for 17th at the Puerto Rico Open, shooting a oneunder-par 71 in his final round of the PGA Tour event yesterday.
A pair of bogeys on the back nine hurt Wilkinson’s bid to challenge the leaders and, although he was able to post three birdies in his final round, he was unable to gain ground.
Wilkinson finished at 14-under for the tournament, six shots behind the winner, American DA Points,
Points started his final round
O’brien which opened the door for the surprise result.
Booth, Cashell, Thomas also came through with wins to secure the overall victory and move them to second on the table.
Their title credentials will be put to the test next round when they face the competition’s only other unbeaten team, Manawatu.
The defending champions steamrolled Levin 91⁄2 to 21⁄2.
Wanganui host the next round and will be disappointed to head into it on the back of a loss.
Foxton beat them 61⁄2 to 51⁄2 on Sunday. with five straight birdies and closed with a six-under 66 to win the event, claiming his third PGA Tour title.
Fellow Kiwi Steven Alker finished his campaign at the tournament with a five-under 67 to climb to a tie for 44th at nine-under.
Alker’s final round was the best of his four at the event, and included an eagle on the par-five second hole as well as three birdies.
Danny Lee finished his campaign with a two-under 70 to finish in a tie for 56th at sevenunder.
Similar to the Taihapepalmerston North result, the scores were level after the foursomes with Foxton getting the advantage through the singles.
In the final match of the round, Feilding continued Tawhero rough first year back in the A-pennants, winning 10-2.
On the bright side for Tawhero was the two wins they recorded in round four was more than what they had accumulated through the first three rounds combined.
Meanwhile, rounds five and six of the B-pennants was battled out at Castlecliff on Sunday.
Castlecliff beat Waimarino 8-1, Marton beat Linton Camp 61⁄2 to 21⁄2, Rangitikei won 6-3 against Waiouru and Hawkestone beat Buckley 9-0.
In the second round of matches for the day, Castlecliff beat Marton 7-2, Linton Camp won 5-4 over Hawkestone, Waiouru finished square 41⁄2 to 41⁄2 with Buckley and Rangitikei hammered Waimarino 8-1.