Matamata Intermediate exceeds 2011 success
The 2012 NZCT Aims Games saw Matamata Intermediate’s team of golfers looking to back up their 2011 performance, where they secured three silver medals.
This year the school’s golf team was represented by two of last year’s members, Sam Weatherley and Jack Trower, and were joined by two year 7 students, Chaise Stoner and his cousin Connor Stoner.
After day one, at the Omokoroa Golf Club, the team was coming second overall, with 115, but trailed Illminster Intermediate (127) by 12 shots, and led Mt Maunganui Intermediate (114) by only one shot.
Only each team’s three best of the four scores, from each round, counted toward the team total.
Matamata Intermediate took the lead on day two, at the Omanu Golf Club, and did not surrender it.
They scooped the gold medal with a team total of 453, six shots clear of round four’s home course team, and silver medallists, Mt Maunganui (447), and 31 shots clear of the bronze medallists, and round three’s home course team, Tauranga (422).
All the boys contributed to the team total, with Chaise Stoner having 37 points on day three, and 43 points on day four, Sam Weatherley 35 points on day one, while Jack Trower had 37 points on day one, and 35 on day four.
This was only outdone by the fact Connor Stoner climbed from fifth place, on day one, to claim the individual gold medal for boys’ stableford, with an absolutely outstanding 178 points, 34 under his handicap.
Connor’s lowest round carding 43 points (7-under) and his best round of 47 points (11-under) at Omanu, but showing real grit, and determination to hold out the other contenders, on the final day, to shoot a 9-under 45 points.
Credit must be given to the coaches and managers who helped the boys stay focused.
They were John and Louise Trower and Darren Weatherley.
When Connor was asked how he felt about the results, he shrugged his shoulders, and said: ‘‘ It’s pretty cool, I guess.’’
All four of the team play at the Matamata Golf Club.