Old Hickory climbs table after second at home

Our Old Hickory team moved into third place in the Club of the Year standings after finishing second at home in the latest round of the inter-club veterans competition.

Played in warm conditions at Waahi Taakaro on Thursday (March 5), the new composite team of Golden Downs and Redstone players surprised everyone by taking home the monthly trophy with a comfortable five-point win.

Led by 38 stableford points - the best of the day - from Norman Hensley and 37 from Mark Nihotte, the combined team totalled 143 to win in just their second start.

Waahi Taakaro secured second with captain Ian Hanford leading the way with 36 points. Graham Eggers and Phil Sellers helped out with 35 apiece, with Bryan Ramsey contributing 32 for a total of 138. Dave Huntley (32) and Lloyd Moyle (27) were the non-counters.

Takaka took third with G Allan's 36 points the top contributor in their total of 133. They were followed by Tasman (132), Greenacres (127), Motueka and Nelson (126), with Totaradale left with the popgun after totalling just 117.

Eight golfers in the field of 48 played to their handicap despite a course playing shorter with plenty of summer run.

There was better fortune on the greens with six golfers snaring a two. They included Ian Hanford, Steve Cox, Martin Strange, Wayne Frost, Robert Murray and Ralph Meikle.

Tasman hold a handy 20 point lead in the Club of the Year race after two rounds with a total of 385. Motueka (365) is next with defending champs Waahi Taakaro (357), Nelson (350), Takaka (349), Greenacres (340), Golden Downs/Redstone (339) and Totaradale (333) doing the chasing.