Manson edges Drysdale

Robbie Manson has won his battle with Mahe Drysdale after being selected by Rowing New Zealand as the men’s elite single scull for the 2019 season.

Manson was always expected to get the nod after beating the two-time Olympic champion twice over the last month, most recently in Tuesday’s race-off at the national trials. His seat was confirmed yesterday along with Emma Twigg in the women’s single scull, meaning the pair will represent New Zealand at this year’s World Cups and world championships.

Drysdale, who earlier lost to Manson at last month’s national championships, will continue to train with Rowing NZ’s summer squad and take part in the remaining elite trials during the first week of April.

While Drysdale has missed out on his favoured single sculls berth, the 40-year-old can still be considered for other crew boats. He could look to return to the quad, the boat he raced last season which finished fourth at the world championships.

Twigg’s selection continues an impressive comeback by the 2014 world champion, who returned to the sport following a two-year layoff in a bid to reach a fourth Olympic Games.

Twigg and Manson will be coached by Mike Rodger.

Josh Geary

is the leading Kiwi contender after the opening round of the New Zealand PGA Championship, holding a two-shot lead over Jack Weston of Western Australia. Fresh from a second-place finish at the New Zealand Open in Queenstown last weekend, Geary made a strong start at Pegasus Golf Club in Christchurch yesterday, carding a nine-under 63. Behind Weston, there was a group of four contenders at six-under, including Kiwi Sam An, who had a strong finish to his round, birdieing three of the final four holes, after stumbling with a bogey on the par-four 12th hole. Three Kiwis finished the day at five-under – amateur Kazuma Kobori, Denzel Ieremia, and Pieter Zwart. Former US Open champion Michael Campbell had a day to forget, chalking up five bogeys and a double bogey on his way to a six-over 78.