Keri Kotua is king of the matchplay

Keri Kotua is this year's individual matchplay champion after a thrilling battle with Rob Willems that was finally decided on the 21st hole.

In the warm winter sun, Keri got off to the better start to be two-up after five holes only for Rob to win the sixth and ninth holes with pars to be all square at the turn. Keri again seized the lead with a par at the 10th and extended it with a good birdie at the par three 14th to be 2 up with four to play. But Rob hit his second at the 16th to tap in range for a birdie of his own and claimed the 16th with a par to again tie it all up. 

The pair shared the 17 and 18th with bogies and the 19th and 20th with pars. Both got themselves in trouble on the long par four 21st where Rob had to give Keri one of his two handicap shots which in the end proved crucial. Keri eventually tapped in for a double bogey six, while Rob needed to sink a six foot putt for a five to halve the hole. It missed and Keri had his title.

Congratulations to both players for their efforts.

In the match of the day, a nett round off the white tees, Winton Griggs topped the standings with a well compiled 68. A stroke behind were Andrew Craig and Graham Eggers on 68 each, with Andrew claiming second on countback. Fourth was Peter Watson on 71.

Steve Russell and Jack Denton were next with 72s, while Jonathan Tuheke, Rod Thomason, Dave Blake and Terry Hemi rounded off the top ten with 73s.

Four golfers - Keri Kotua, Jason Lee, Graham Eggers and Peter Watson - shared the twos prize money.

Next week (August 3) qualifying for the club champs starts, with the first of three consecutive rounds, with the best two counting towards the top eight in each of the four divisions - senior, intermediate ,junior A and junior B. It is also the first of two rounds in the DB Stroke and the Stroke title in each grade. All these rounds will be played off the blue tees.

The handicap index range for each grade is:

0-12 senior

12.1 - 18 intermediate

18.1 - 24 junior A

Above 24.1 junior B

ends