Tatana favourite in Horowhenua Open
Junior Tatana and Brydie Hodge remain at the top of the Manawatu-Wanganui order of merit standings as they prepare for the shortened Horowhenua Open in Levin on Sunday.
The Horowhenua Open was meant to be held last month, but wet weather saw it postponed.
Since then persistent rain has left the Levin Golf Course sodden, so the usual 36-hole event has been reduced to 18 holes.
The abbreviated tournament will be nothing new to players.
Last Sunday the Wanganui Open was also shortened to 18 holes after rain on the morning of the tournament.
The tournament was played in damp and windy conditions which challenged those who braved the course.
But early forecasts suggest they could have some better weather on the way this weekend.
Palmerston North’s Tatana remains the favourite after winning the Joe Kells Memorial and finishing runner-up at Wanganui.
He finished the Levin event second last year after a countback handed the title to Tony Chettleburgh.
Castlecliff’s Hayden Ring won the Wanganui Open and looks to be in good form after missing the Joe Kells Memorial.
Defending order of merit champion Regan Cording finished second and fifth in tournaments this year and is another who should challenge for the title.
Manawatu trio Guy Perry, Regan McConaghty and Rhys Watkins have also been in consistent form with consecutive top 10 finishes.
Levin’s Hodge women’s competition.
Hodge has continued where she left off before setting off for leads the the United States in 2015.
She won the Palmerston North Classic and was second at the Wanganui Open.
The latter was won by hometown girl and reigning order of merit champion Tara Raj. The 14-year-old claimed the title for a third straight season.
Raj, who missed the Palmerston North Classic due to illness, played No 1 for the ManawatuWanganui Toro team last year.
Hodge will likely take top spot this year, but last weekend proved that Raj will not be giving up the position without a fight.
But Manawatu’s Mudra Lakhani and Lily Griffin are also in good form and will put pressure on the favourites.