Masters on top in quad tournament
The Manawatu¯ -Wanganui masters finished on top in the annual quadrangular tournament in Lower Hutt at the weekend.
The win could become even sweeter for the team if the four associations sign off on a plan to have the Stu Smith Memorial Cup assigned to the event.
The masters players from Manawatu¯ -Wanganui, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington replaced junior boys as the third category at the event this year.
While the men play for the Shand Cup and the women have the Sybil Green Salver, there is no prize for the masters.
Manawatu¯ -Wanganui team manager Boy Manunui said the idea to name a cup after Smith, a former Manawatu¯ -Wanganui representative golfer who died aged 46 in August last year, was the popular option at the event.
If the associations agree, Manawatu¯ -Wanganui will be the first name engraved after they got across the line with five points and 12 games.
Wellington finished level on points, but had 10 games which saw them finish second.
The men’s team included Ross Geary, Mike Mcsherry, Rick Harding, Rhys Watkins, Phil Hooper
and Tony Chettleburgh.
They beat Hawke’s Bay 4 1/2-1 1/2, finished 3-3 with Wellington and beat Taranaki 4 1/2-1 1/2.
It was not as positive for the men’s team who lost all of their matches leaving them with no points and 6.5 games.
The team was missing four of their top players with Junior Tatana out with a cracked elbow and Regan Cording, Greg Shaw and Ewan Westergaard all unavailable.
They lost to Hawke’s Bay 5-3, Taranaki 5-3 and Wellington 7 1/2-1/2.
Guy Perry was the best performer with one win and two halves.