Club results for 20/9/25

The first round of the NBS club champ playoffs produced their usual mix of close battles and blow-outs.

While there are a number of quarterfinal matches still to be played by the deadline of October 3, Bryce Vincent got the ball rolling in the intermediate grade with a 3/1 win over Jonathan Tuheke. Bryce - the second seed- won the opening four holes, which included a birdie two on No 2, to seize control over a rusty Jonathan who stopped the rot with a winning par on the short No 5 and reduced the deficit further with a bogey on No 8. But a couple of costly doubles handed the momentum back to Bryce who went six up with a par on No 11 and dormie with a half on the next. However, Jono finally found his mojo to win the next four holes with three pars and a bogey, but it was all a bit too late as Bryce closed it out with a par on No 17.

Gabriel Tijsen was also pushed to the 17th before overcoming Jason Lee 2/1 in a much tighter tussle. Gabriel edged ahead with a bogey on the tough No 3 hole but fell behind as Jason won No 5 and 7 with pars. But Gabriel finished the front nine strongly winning No 8 and 9 with pars to restore his lead. He went two-up with a bogey at the long uphill No 13 only for Jason to birdie the par-three No 14 to stay in touch but after halving No 15 with a par he doubled the next to go dormie. They shook hands on the next after both parred the hole. The closeness of the match  was clear in the scores, with Gabriel recording an 87 to Jason's 86.

There was something of a surprise in the Junior A grade with top qualifier Gareth Edwards falling to the No 8 seed Lewis Wilson 2 up. Gareth was two up after four and one up at the turn, but Lewis - a vastly experienced matchplayer - didn't panic when he went two behind at No 13. He won No 15 with a bogey and then turned the match on its head by winning No 15 and 16 (with a birdie three) to grab the lead for the first time. They halved No 17 with bogeys before Lewis sealed it by winning No 18 after Gareth made a mess of the hole.

Third seed Brendan Doyle hammered Mark Clucas 6/5 to advance to the semifinals. Starting on No 4, big-hitting Brendan was four up after nine. He than parred the difficult No 13 to go further ahead and did the same on the downhill No 15 to go dormie. It was all over at the next after they halved in bogeys.

Another experienced matchplayer, Geoff Halkett, stormed out to a big lead over Mike Williams in another Junior A encounter before surviving a spirited comeback for a 2/1 victory. Starting on No 7, Geoff won their first six holes, including with an opening birdie, in being just two over the card. Mike stemmed the bleeding by winning No 13 with a bogey but lost No 15 to a par to look down and out. But he stayed alive by taking both No 16 and No 17 before Geoff claimed No 18 with a bogey.. Mike then won the next four holes as Geoff got the wobbles to cut the deficit to one with two to play. However, Geoff put an end to the fightback by parring No 14 to claim a nervous win.

In the Junior B division, Andrew Craig overwhelmed Bryan Ramsey 8/6 to book his place in the final four. After halving their first two holes, Andrew won six of the next seven to take a stranglehold. After winning No 10 with a bogey, he finished it off early by winning No 12 with another bogey.

The other match in the division also ended early, with Duncan Isle withdrawing with injury after six holes with Roma three up at the time.

In the stableford match of the day off the white tees for those not involved in the quarterfinals, regular Takaka visitor Rob Ancell showed he has got the hang of the course by shooting 76 off the stick for the best gross and 37 stableford points to claim first on countback from Lindsay Brooks who also posted a net 71 for 37 points.

Peter Watson played to his handicap in claiming third with 36 points.

He was followed by Chris Louth and Ian Hanford on 34 points apiece, while James Campion - who also broke 80 with a 78 - rounded out the top six with 33.

Neil McLaren couldn't quite make it back from Australia in time for the early tee-off but was the best of the 9-holers in winning on countback from Andrew Green after both finished the par competition off the back nine at +1. Next were the trio of Lloyd Moyle, Warren Carey and Paul McCrae on 0. Buoyed by the only two - on No 14 - Steve Turnell finished sixth on -1.

Next week (Sept 27)  we play another round of the Barkman Trophy and Shootout off the white tees, while the 9-holers play a net round off the front nine. 

The club champs semifinals are scheduled for October 4 when the four seniors will join the fray. A full draw will be published after next Saturday and more catch-up matches are played.