In-form Tatana leads the way

Junior Tatana led the charge as Manawatu¯ -Whanganui won the Freyberg Masters rep tournament for the first time in 12 years.

The Palmerston North golfer had eight wins from eight matches as Manawatu¯ Whanganui won the tournament at the Taupo¯ Golf Club at the weekend.

It is believed to be the first time since 2006 Manawatu¯ -Whanganui have won the tournament.

They finished on seven points and hung on to win at the death, with Tasman and Auckland, who had 61⁄2 points, pushing hard at the end of the tournament.

Manawatu¯ -Whanganui beat Bay of Plenty 3-2, Ao¯ rangi 3-2, Southland 31⁄2-11⁄2, Hawke’s Bay 4-1, Poverty Bay East Coast 41⁄2-1⁄2, Wellington 3-2 and North Harbour 31⁄2-11⁄2, but lost 3-2 to Auckland.

Tatana enjoyed the good conditions to win all of his matches at No 1.

‘‘I quite enjoy that course, the Centennial Course, because I used to play a bit there when I was a junior,’’ he said. ‘‘It was good to go back on that course again surrounded by good team-mates, so that was an advantage.

‘‘We’re all good mates and we all get along. It’s really cool to go away with those boys and have one of the best weeks of my life.’’

Tatana had surgery on his elbow yesterday to remove three floating bits of bone and he will be out of action for about eight weeks.

Of Tatana’s team-mates, Manawatu¯ ’s Tony Chettleburgh had four wins, three losses and a half at No 2 and No 3 Phil Hooper, of Whanganui, had six wins and two losses.

Rick Harding, of Whanganui, had four wins, three losses and a half, reserve Stu Gillespie (Whanganui) had one win, three losses and a half, and Ross Geary (Hawkestone) had one win and two losses.

The senior men’s interprovincial golf championships start on Monday at Clearwater in Christchurch. The women’s tournament is at Waitikiri in Christchurch, starting on December 4.