Old Hickory team pipped by Motueka

For the second successive month little separated Waahi Taakaro and Motueka as they battled for Old Hickory honours on Thursday (August 6).

Last month we won on countback, but this time Motueka got their revenge, pipping us by one stableford point to take the trophy and maintain their big lead in the Car Company Club of the Year points standings.

The home side took full advantage after the latest round was moved to Motueka after Greenacres closed part of their course for rock work.

Led by 36 points from Ralph Meikle and 35 each from Andrew Fenemor and Bernie Walsh, Motueka totalled a best-four total of 139.

Dave Huntley with a fabulous 41 points - the best individual effort of the day - got us within a whisker of another countback situation which we would have won. He was ably supported by Richard Pearson with 35, while Grant Fergusson and Peter Watson chipped in with 31 apiece to see us just fall short on 138. Graham Eggers (29) and Jack Denton (26) were our non-scorers.

Tasman finished third, largely thanks to Eric Satherley's 38 points. 

There was a scramble for the minor places with Totaradale (123) just getting the better of Nelson (122), Greenacres (120) and Takaka (118), with the Golden Downs-Redstone team taking home the popgun with 115 points.

There were six twos, with three Waahi Taakaro players (Richard Pearson, Grant Fergusson and Peter Watson) as well as Tasman pair Phil Hyatt and Ian Dorney and Nelson's Dave Duggan slotting one each.

Despite the fine and frosty weather and a course in good condition, just three golfers in the 48 player field matched or bettered their handicaps.

So after seven rounds, Motueka (1294) has stretched their lead in the Club of the Year race to an almost unassailable 73 points over titleholders Waahi Taakaro (1221). Tasman (1218), Takaka (1216) and Nelson (1200) are close behind. Next are Totaradale (1186) and Greenacres (1157), with Golden Downs-Redstone trailing on 1106.

The next round is at Takaka on September 3.