Dianne Sweeney (Walton) the Waikato Women’s President, partnered with Deb Ring (Walton) have won the 43rd New Zealand Women’s Senior Handicap Foursomes at Matamata Golf Club today. For their four days work, the pair win the NZLGU Senior Women’s Salvers and the 2016 title.
In a closely fought match that seesawed between the front and back nines, the Walton duo denied the Matamata pairing of Lynne Edmonds and Brenda Hull a coveted home win.
Sweeney and Ring took an early that they held till the 11th, being 3 holes up. Edmonds and Hull however clawed back to be all level at the 15th. A wayward tee shot put the home favourites out of bounds on the tricky par 3 - 16th, followed by a missed putt on the 17th gifting Walton a 2/1 win.
On reaching this afternoons final, Sweeney and Ring needed 20 holes to edge out Janet Myers (Cambridge) and Nan Johnston (Hamilton) in this mornings semi-final. Edmonds and Hull had had an easier run when they secured their final place 2/1 against fellow Matamata members, Ruth Taylor and Diane Voyce.
Top qualifiers after Monday’s net qualifying round were Ngaire English and Robyn Pardy. Both are members of North Shore Golf Club. English is a past representative for North Harbour, and Pardy was born with golf in her blood, the daughter of the late Bob Glading. Sadly for this pairing, their early form could not be matched and they lost their first match on Tuesday. They also lost their final match of the tournament, the battle for Flight 2 to the 2011 winners, Donna Sullivan (Weedons) and Wendy Storey (North Shore), this afternoon.
Also in the prize pool for the top division were Rosalie Brown and Dixie Horne, both from Mt Maunganui winning the Plate, and Gillian Hazlehurst and Lynn Ryan (Matamata) winning the other Flight.
The second division, competing for the Mrs SS Wilson Plates, was won by Heather Blackwell and Jill Evans (Weedons) on the 18th hole, against Valda Anderson (Foxton) and Larraine Duckett (Masterton).   The Plate winners were Judith Simpson (Pupuke) and Diane Taylor (Mangawhai) with Flights being won by Noeleen Hill and Jocelyn Poananga from Whakatane, along with Marian Irvine and Christine Kampfraath, both members of Rotorua.
Local hopes were on the strong pairing of Sheelah Lamb and Pam Wright winning division three and the ADLGA Trophies, but alas the Matamata pair were beaten on the 18th this afternoon.   Wright, a current Waikato masters representative, and Lamb, were one of the lowest combined pairs on handicap going into the tournament, but a disappointing qualifying round seeded them in the 3rd division.
A solid performance all week from Edna Connolly and Anke Hermannsdorfer (Waihi) gave them the trophies, with Lee Ann Pitcon and Heather Sharp (Walton) winning the Plate. The two Flights were won by Nola Marriott and Jacqui Planicka (Weedons), along with Lis Stringer and Jo Free (Napier).
Jo Hollies (The Grange) and Andrea Mark (Paraparaumu Beach) won the fourth division, the Rosetown Cups in convincing style with a 5/3 win over Jan Gibson (Tarras) and Rosa Westgarth (Pleasant Point).   The Plate was won by Waihi member’s Margaret Lecky and Denise McConnon, with the two Flights won by Shirlie Ryan (Matamata) paired with Roz Tucker (Mt Maunganui) and Sue Cook with long-time foursomes partner Verna Scott. Cook and Scott are both members of Warkworth.
Denise Langdon, from PaR nz Golfing Holidays who manage the tournament on behalf of New Zealand Golf advised that the 2017 venue will be the New Plymouth Golf Club, commonly known as Ngamotu. The dates follow the same annual programme with the qualifying round on Monday 20 November, with 3-days foursomes match play commencing Tuesday 21 November.   Entries forms will be out in due course and available on www.golf.co.nz and www.parnz.co.nz
For more information please contact
Denise Langdon
Tournament Director
Phone 0275 662 385
Email denise@parnz.co.nz

Waikato Women’s President wins Women’s Senior Foursomes