Hawke’s Bay 4-Course Classic makes it’s debut

The inaugural Hawke’s Bay 4-Course Classic, celebrating golf and wine across the Hawke’s Bay region, finished with winners from Nelson, Purangi, Royal Auckland and Mt Maunganui.
More than 110 golfers and partners from 45 golf clubs in New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Fiji took part in the four-day event, playing Maraenui, Napier, Hawke’s Bay and Hastings golf clubs.
The men’s and women’s field was split into 5 divisions by handicap with a concurrent strokeplay competition for lower handicap players. The main competition was stableford, with daily prizes recognising the top scores at each course.
Shirley Otton (Nelson) won the women’s first division with 151 points, and a six-point margin over Sherrill Jeeves (Sherwood Park) in second place. Kathy Maxwell (Windross Farm) was third, one shot on a countback from Judy Hart (Remuera).
In the second division Maxine Kavalli (Purangi) led all week, finishing on 154 points, a six-point winning margin. Younghwa Lee (Waitemata) was second and one point back third was Gretchen Brown (Feilding).
In the men first division, another Purangi member, Tim Barlett took the honours with a score of 158 stableford points, the largest winning margin over the five groups. Seventeen points back second was Brian Murphy (Marenui) while Philip Green (Nudgee, Australia) was a point back, on 140, to take third.
John Henley (Royal Auckland) with 146 points, won the men’s second division, three ahead of Jack Callesen (Omanu) on 143. Fellow Omanu club member Kevin Powell was third, with 142 points.
In the third divisiion Bill Potze (Mt Maunganui) had a solid week leading in all four rounds, and finishing on 159 points. Second was Bob Walker (Purangi) and Peter Wright (Waihi) came third.
Eleanor Hodson (New Plymouth), an accomplished Taranaki representative, won the women’s strokeplay event with rounds of 88, 85, 82 and 90 for a final score of 345 while the men’s strokeplay ended on a tie with a total score of 320. The two oplayers Craig Maxwell (78, 79, 82, 81) and Kevin Yeo (81, 77, 81, 81). Maxwell is a member of Auckland’s recently opened Windross Farm while Yeo was a visiting golfer from Australia with Redcliff his home club.
The tournament was managed and promoted by PaR nz Golfing Holidays, New Zealand’s largest golf tour and tournament operator, supported by the four clubs and in conjunction with Napier City Council, the Art Deco Society and Hawke's Bay Tourism.

Sarah HeadComment