Kennedy wins open title by one shot
A field of 50 players lined up for the Summit Forests Men's Open at Houhora earlier this month, the event attracting keen golfers from clubs throughout the upper Northland area to play in perfect autumn conditions.
There was a keen contest between the club's lowest handicapper, Ben Kennedy and Bob Shirley for the best gross, with the former eventually coming out on top with 74 one shot ahead of the latter who recorded 75.
Other results from the Saturday, May 4, event, were, Division 1, nett: R Carmen 62, P Hanara 69, stableford: P Moffat 41, B Black 39; Division 2, nett: B Campbell 63, J Stanners 68; stableford: P Wedding 43, R Hockley 41. Also, longest drive: G Campbell (Div 1), P Clark (Div 2), nearest the pin, J Proctor on the 4th hole, L Shailes the 11th (in Div 1) and L Crewther 2nd and H Narby 13th (Div 2).
In other news, last Sunday’s club competition resulted in three players scoring 39 stableford points, with Frank Hurinui winning over Ivor Bates and Patrick Wedding; Wednesday's 9-hole haggle was won by Warren Thompson with 20 stableford points, Patrick Wedding 18 and Laurence Gordon 17.
Cynthia Shailes was also congratulated for placing second in division 1 of the Northland ladies strokeplay nett competition at Ahipara on a recent Saturday.
****
In domestic results, heavy rain and wind caused the normal 18 hole competition at Houhora on Sunday to be shortened to nine holes this week.
After adjustment to individual scores was made, Ash Mitchell came out on top with 27 points nett followed by Brian King 34 and Frank Hurinui 35.
The 9-hole Wednesday haggle was also resulted in a win for Mitchell with 21 stableford points from Ivor Bates on countback. Third was Kevin McStay a visitor from the Ashburton GC currently holidaying in the area and enjoying some Far North hospitality.