Club results for 9/3/24

Garth Jameson does not do things half-heartedly.

The former NZ champion speed skater has shown the same fierce determination and appetite for success since taking up golf just over two years ago.

He started with a handicap of 36.6 and through constant practice got that down to 22.4 a year later. Now - after shooting his first sub 80 round at Waahi Taakaro a week ago - the lanky 49-year-old is playing off a 12.5 to be easily the most improved golfer at the club.

It has seen him already selected for our Sloan Trophy team and on Saturday (March 9)  he won his first major club trophy, the Stubberfield Cup, which is a net plus putts competition played over four rounds with the best three counting. 

After three consistent performances with saw him total 103, 95 and 98, he nailed his last round to record a net 68 and 31 putts for a 99 which was good enough to win the match of the day on countback and secure himself the silverware.

And he did it the hard way off the blue tees and on greens that had just been cored and sanded.

His top three-round total of 292 was two better than a resurgent Steve Russell (294) who claimed second overall after finishing with his highest round of 103. Andy Isle - who was absent for the fourth round - was third on 295, while Aaron Kotua was fourth on 297 despite a shocker on Saturday.

Garth edged Geoff Halkett (71+28) for fourth-round honours on countback with the lowest net, while Peter Watson (68+32) was third on 100. There was a two-way tie for fourth between Paul Tunnicliff and Andrew Craig who both shot a net 70 and took 33 putts, while Steve Russell (72+31) was pushed back to sixth on countback.

Geoff led the putting stats, helped by binning a long putt from off the 5th green for the only two of the day. Peter shot the best gross of the day, a 77, which was highlighted by an eagle at the par five 10th following two good blows and a perfect sand wedge from 70m.

Heather Carey strode to victory among the 9-holers with a +2 score in the par competition over the front nine.

Next week (March 16) we play a bisque par off the white tees starting at 9.30am, while the 9-holers play an Irish stableford off the back nine starting at 11.30am.