On Sunday, November 27, the Waihi club held its Christmas Open Tournament. Despite some dire weather predictions, the rain held off, and the tournament was completed in good conditions. With visitors from five other clubs, a total field of over 65 started the contest. There was some good scoring with Murray Fraser taking the top prize with 73 gross, while Chris Astwood won the nett with an excellent 61. Denise Morgan showed some of her form from earlier in the season with a terrific 45 points to take out the top Stableford prize. Other winners: In division 1, Paul Williams had 39 points, Harison Madsen and Mark Tomsett both scored 38 points, and Jethro Meares and Greg Rosevear scored 37. Grant Robson and Alex Teesdale both had 36. In division 2, Glenn Te Wake was top with 41 points, while Rebecca Astwood, Logan Phillips, and Alex Morton were next with 40. All on 37 were Kaylene Croker, Rex Knight, and Paul Morgan, with Karen Roche and Susan Mustard on 35. A number of ham raffles meant a lot of people headed home well prepared for Christmas.
MONDAY VETS: A smaller field this week mainly evaded the wet weather. The competition was putting, and it was tight at the top, with Vivienne Lilley, Judy Saunders, and Brian Baynes all recording 30 putts for the round. Helen Hunkin, Rae Brown, Rodger Bagshaw, Ross fitness, and Rob Morrison all finished one behind with 31 putts.
On the same day, the Waihi team played in the final round of the Coromandel shield at Te Aroha, on a rather bleak and rainy day. The highlight was Ken Purcell scoring a hole in one that gave him a great score, and with the rest of the team performing well, Waihi won the day and lifted themselves to fourth for the season.
TUESDAY NINE HOLE: The second round of the Joanna Mathews Summer Cup was played, and this week the leading scores were shared by Vicky Knight and Glen Bennett with 21 points. Next was Garth Pritchard with 19, while Lynda Thomson, and Jill Morrison both had 17 points.
HUME MONTHLY MEAT PACK TOURNAMENT: It was played on Thursday with frequent showers and an extremely strong westerly that made play often difficult. However, some good scores were recorded, and the winner of the gross was Adam Mackie with 76, while the winner of the nett was Graham Curd with 72, on a countback from Alex Standfield. The winner of the Stableford was Richard Taitoko with 40 points, and in division 1, he was followed by Alex Standfield with 36, then Michelle Libby, Andy Roche, John Taylor, and Terry Gerbich all with 35 points. In division 2, Roy Huch, John Drent, Matt Donnelly, and Pete Rowe all finished with 34 points.
