Dream start for Old Hickory team

Our Old Hickory team has made the ideal start to the new season by defending the trophy it won in December.

On a hot summer’s Thursday (Feb 1) on a Waahi Taakaro course that proved surprisingly tough given the generous run, we fashioned a five-point victory over Greenacres, with Motueka finishing third a further point adrift.

It was our third victory on the trot and  good way to begin our defence of the season-long points race.

Led by 39 stableford points from Grant Fergusson – the second-best individual score of the day - and 37 from Tom Kennedy, we ended with a competitive but catchable total of 142 points. Bryan Ramsey (34) and captain Ian Hanford (32) added the extras, while Barry Rhodes (30) and Graham Galt (26) didn’t trouble the scorers.

However, no other team could mount a serious challenge as just six players in the field of 44 played to their handicap by carding 36 points or more.

Ironically, the best score of the day went to a player just making up the numbers: Waahi Taakaro’s Warren Carey posted a muscular 40 points, which included one of only two twos scored. Totaradale’s Denis Hall got the other.

Greenacres came second on 137 points and were followed by Motueka (136), Totaradale (133), and Nelson and Takaka on 130 each. Tasman took home the popgun after recording a dismal 122 points.

Nelson’s David Duggan – playing off a 7 handicap - scored the best gross of the day, an 82.

The next round is at Takaka on March 7.