Winter ices another Maitai Masters

Connor Winter has defended his Total Golf Maitai Masters title, winning the annual 27-hole tournament at the sunny Waahi Taakaro Golf Course on Saturday by three shots.

Playing off a +2 handicap – the lowest in the 70-strong field – the Nelson club member posted a tidy one under par 71 for the first 18 holes before sealing the deal with a hard-working 40 on the final nine.

His total of 111 in ideal golfing conditions on a course in excellent shape shaded his fellow Nelson colleague and rep player Ben Crawford who finished second on 114 (74 + 40) with Waahi Taakaro’s top player James Campion back in third on 119 (79 + 40).

Winter’s win mirrored his first one last year when he won by two shots. Again he started strongly to lead his rivals, shrugged off a late triple bogey before grinding out the victory over the last nine as the wind got up and fatigue set in.

``I’m so happy to win it again.

``I’ve played a lot of junior golf up here and had a lot of close calls so I’m stoked to do it again.

``It’s a tricky course to play and much harder than it looks.’’

Winter said he has learned to take less than driver off many holes to give himself good looks at the greens. ``I chipped and putted really well which helped.’’

Crawford’s two-under 34 on his second nine put him in contention but a final 40 saw him tread water.

The other big winner on the day was Waahi Taakaro’s Gareth Edwards who not only won the cup for the best gross in the junior grade but he also took out the major prize as the overall net winner in his first season of competitive golf.

Playing off an 18 handicap, he shot 89 and 44 for a total of 133 and a net 106 to top the field.

Others notable efforts came from Golden Downs’ Jeremy Hancock who won the senior net with a score of 109, while Phil Hawke (Picton) and tournament director Peter Watson (Waahi Taakaro ) shared the intermediate grade honours with Hawke winning the cup for the best gross with a total of 125 and Watson taking the net with 108.

Picton’s Iain Berrie took the gross prize in the junior division after totalling 139, while Morgan Thorn (Totaradale) came in with the best net of 108.

Again the condition of the course – which has made an amazing recovery after suffering devastating damage in the floods of 2022 and 2023 – was widely praised by the players.

Thanks again to our Waahi Taakaro club volunteers, sponsors Total Golf, Mitre 10 Mega, NBS, Stables Restaurant, Turf Hotel and Elliott Drainage and to course maintainers Nelmac for their help in putting on a great tournament.

Prize-winners were:

Senior: gross 1^st, Connor Winter, 2^nd Ben Crawford, 3^rd James Campion; net 1^st Jeremy Hancock, 2^nd Henry Race, 3^rd Mark Topia, 4^th Bill Rooney.

Intermediate: gross 1^st Phil Hawke, 2^nd Jason Lee, 3^rd Tawera Tahana-Carew; net 1^st Peter Watson, 2^nd Karl Clark, 3^rd Shane Weaver, 4^th James Sutherland , 5^th Rob Lopez, 6^th Glenn Fitzpatrick, 7^th Reinhart Pauls.

Junior: gross 1^st Gareth Edwards/Iain Berrie, 2^nd Grant Thorn, 3^rd Eric Bradley; net 1^st M Thorn, 2^nd Spiro Cosmatos, 3^rd Duncan Isle, 4^th Phil Sellers, 5^th Neil Howard, 6^th Rod Sinclair, 7^th Ian Aldridge

Overall net: Gareth Edwards

There were 11 twos scored, with Phil Hawke slotting two and Wayne Pratt, Grant Thorn, Karl Clark, Henry Race, Mark Topia, Connor Winter, Elton Netto, Ben Crawford and Pete Green getting one each.

Other prizes went to:

Straightest drive, Ian Molloy; longest drive, Elijah Barney (senior), Laurie McGlone (intermediate), Brendan Doyle (junior); closest to pin No 2, Ben Crawford; closest to pin No 11, Laurie McGlone; closest to pin No 5, Laurie McGlone,; closest to pin No 14, Rob Lopez; pitch for cash, Roger Hunapo 1^st, Bill Rooney  2^nd.