Golfers mark tournament milestone in fine style

Twenty-five years of golfing camaraderie and competition was celebrated in fine style at the Marlborough Golf Club earlier this week.

A field of 191 women took part in the annual Allan Scott Family Wines women’s tournament, which commemorated a quarter century of competition at its Fairhall home from March 10-12.

The format of the ever-popular event which attracts players from throughout the country, remained the same. On Monday, a stableford competition was contested in three divisions, on Tuesday a four-ball, best-ball pairs competition was played then, on Wednesday, a gross and nett competition was undertaken across three divisions.

Winner of the Allan Scott Trophy, for most stableford points in division one on Monday, was Karen Holder, from the Titirangi club. Julie Jones, also from Titirangi, took out the division two title, while Marlborough local Pam Morris won division three.

A highlight on day one was a hole-in-one on the picturesque fifth hole, the perfect shot being played by Rachel Saunders from Nelson’s Greenacres club.

Tuesday’s pairs competition also featured close competition amid 87 combinations, the Kaikoura duo of Lyn Batchelor and Frances Tapiata winning on countback from Deb O’Keeffe and Ros Leov, from the host club.

Wednesday’s play was interrupted briefly by a heavy rain shower, but scoring remained consistent. In division one, Rarangi’s Andrea Thomas was a clear winner of the gross crown, while Marlborough’s Julie Smith claimed the nett title.

To recognise the 25^th anniversary, dinners were held following play on both Tuesday and Wednesday with former committee members invited along to share in the celebrations.

Results:

Monday

Division one (0-19): Karen Holder (Titirangi) 40; Fran Sutherland (Totaradale) 39; Fiona McBride (Otaki) 38 CB. Division two (20-26): Julie Jones (Titirangi) 41; Frances Tapiata (Kaikoura) 40 CB; Deb O’Keeffe 40. Division three (27-42): Pam Morris (Marlborough) 43; Mary Skilton (Marlborough) 41 CB; Carol Bearsley (Titirangi) 41.

Tuesday

Division one (0-42): Lyn Batchelor and Frances Tapiata (Kaikoura) 51 CB; Deb O’Keeffe and Ros Leov (Marlborough) 51; Mary Murphy and Linda Robert (Royal Auckland and Grange) 50.

Wednesday

Gross

Senior: Andrea Thomas (Rarangi) 79; Jo Rainbird (Rarangi) 83; Anne Familton (Akarana) 84. Intermediate: Lesley Polton (Clearwater) 93; Diana Clark (Greenacres) 94; Helen Neame (Rarangi) 96. Junior: Marilyn Beetham (Masterton) 98; Marion Elliot (Miramar) 100 CB; Sandy Hood (Greenacres) 100.

Nett

Senior: Julie Smith (Marlborough) 72; Helen Kain (Greenacres) 75; Maria McConway (Picton) 76. Intermediate: Anne Schnell (Fielding) 75 CB; Frances Tapiata (Kaikoura) 75 CB; Pip Murdoch (Royal Wellington) 75. Junior: Shirleen Miller (Motueka) 71 CB; Grace Clark (Greenacres) 71; Sue Cockroft (Royal Auckland) 72.