Cording claims Challenge Cup
Regan Cording took advantage of perfect conditions at Rangitikei Golf Club on Sunday to win the Manawatu-wanganui strokeplay championship and claim the Challenge Cup.
The Palmerston North player fired rounds of 73 and 75 to claim the one-shot victory over Junior Tatana and Rhys Watkins.
Tatana, who shot a 77 in the first round, had the best score of the day with a 72 in the second round.
Greg Shaw was another two shots back in third with rounds of 75 and 76, while Ewan Westergaard was a further shot back in fourth.
Foxton’s Khalil Peta had the best net score with 143 from his two rounds. He finished one shot ahead of Mornington’s Darrin Hiroki and Marton Greenskeeper Shay Melis on 144.
Lance Knowles won the men’s division two with rounds of 83 and 79.
In the women’s competition, Rangitikei player Jill Hall eased to a one-shot hometown win to claim the Challenge Shield.
Hall’s first round of 77 was best score recorded by a woman on the day. She shot an 84 in the second.
That left her just ahead of inform Wanganui teenager Tara Raj, who had rounds of 82 and 80.
Tania Hook was third with rounds of 79 and 84, while Leanne Brown finished fourth (80 and 84) and Mudra Lukhani fifth after shooting 85 and 83.
Manawatu-wanganui Golf development manager Watkins said despite the conditions, the course was challenging.
‘‘Rangitikei demands very good course management tee to green,’’ he said. ‘‘Some tricky pin placements meant players needed to position the ball well on the greens. Many players struggled with that requirement which led to higher scores than many would have expected.’’
The Rangitikei event was the third on Manawatu-wanganui’s order of merit, but the final one before their Shand Cup fixture on October 8-9.
Tony Chettleburgh won the first event on the order of merit, the Horowhenua Open, on countback from Tatana.
Tane North claimed the Whanganui Open. Tatana originally was tied with North but disqualified himself after discovering an error in his records.
The remaining event is the Manawatu Open on October 16.