Ball putt the difference as Poverty Bay win pennants

Poverty Bay are the 2023 Endeavour men’s interclub pennants champions after a thrilling finale to the four-round series. From left are PB team members Frank Ball, Colin Simpson, Tene Goldsmith, Peter Hakiwai, Kit Goldsmith and Richard Foon. The Bay last won the crown in 2012. Ball and Hakiwai were members of that side. Picture supplied

One shot decided the 2023 Endeavour men’s interclub pennants on Sunday.

One putt to be exact.

Four rounds, comprising 24 matches for each of the eight teams, came down to two men and the sixth green at Poverty Bay Golf Club.

Poverty Bay and Electrinet Park (1) finished the handicap matchplay series tied on 64 points, setting up a sudden-death playoff on the par-3 sixth hole to decide the champions.

The men selected for one-on-one combat were Frank Ball (PB) and Shannon Toa (Park).

The pressure of the situation was clearly felt. Neither made the green with their tee shots — Toa catching the large tree on the right; Ball’s ball ending up in the grass at the front of the bunker short of the  green.

Both made bogey-4s, so a putt-off from around 40-feet ensued. Toa went first and left his effort well short. Ball put it comfortably inside that for victory and Poverty Bay’s first Endeavour crown since 2012 — Ball was captain of that side.

It was the second year running, the title was decided in such a way. Murray Yates won a chip-off for Tolaga Bay over Waikohu’s Percy Milner to clinch the 2022 honours.

Earlier on Sunday, Poverty Bay and Park (1) eased past top-of-the-table Tolaga Bay with emphatic Round 4 team wins.

The Bay trounced Tolaga Bay 22-2 while Park (1) whitewashed Patutahi (2) 24-0.

Tene Goldsmith was the only Poverty Bay player not to win but was their hero of the round.

Goldsmith was 5-down with five holes to play against Rongo Pomana, but won all five with pars to snatch a share of the points.

Ball, Colin Simpson, Peter Hakiwai — also in the 2012 champion team — Richard Foon and Kit Goldsmith posted W’s for Poverty Bay.

Toa, Wayne Carpendale, Mike Christophers, Ian Loffler, Paul Wellard and Beau Toa made it a perfect six from six for Park (1) .

Park’s No.2 team finished third overall after a 14-10 win over Mahia. Glen McKinnon, Mike Bond and Heath Tupara had wins, while Steve Phillips had a half.

Bruce Maher and Rusty Smith had wins and Kemp Solomon a half for Mahia.

Waikohu consigned Patutahi (1) to the wooden spoon with a 16-8 team victory.

Larry Green, Te Rata Ritchie, Dudley Reeves and Tama Brown had wins for Waikohu.

Tom Hindmarsh — the form player of the last round — and cousin Ashley Hindmarsh posted wins for  Patutahi.

Duncan Bush, Dirk Bullivant and Mark Stewart played for the Poverty Bay team in earlier rounds of the series.

Endeavour men’s interclub pennants, Round 4 (four points for a win, two points for a half): Electrinet Park (1) 24 Patutahi (2) 0, Poverty Bay 22 Tolaga Bay 2, Park (2) 14 Mahia 10, Waikohu 16 Patutahi (1) 8.

Final standings: Poverty Bay 64, Park (1) 64, Park (2) 54, Mahi 52, Tolaga Bay 50, Waikohu 38, Patutahi (2) 32, Patutahi (1) 26.