Collier sets hot pace at PB Open

Electrinet Park member Dan Collier on his way to an opening round 3-under 69 in strokeplay qualifying at the Poverty Bay Men’s Open on the Awapuni Links course. Picture by Paul Rickard

Gisborne golfer Dan Collier made a loud and clear statement in the opening round of qualifying at the Poverty Bay Men’s Open today.

Electrinet Park member Collier fired 3-under 69 in summer-like weather on the Awapuni Links course.

It was the low round of the morning, two strokes clear of Dean Williams, a member of Canterbury course Amberley.

Collier had a sensational finish to his round — birdie, birdie and an eagle on the par-5 18th.

Organisers have changed the order of holes at this year’s Open, meaning the fifth hole has become the 18th.

Seven-time PB Open champion Waka Donnelly (former of Poverty Bay but now a member of Napier) was third with a 1-over 73, followed by Park member Pete Stewart and Rotorua’s Mark Smith (74).

Two recently crowned senior men’s club champions were next on 75 — Hukanui Brown (Patutahi) and Anaru Reedy (Park).

Another Park player, Tony Akroyd, fired 76, as did Simon Jeune — the best of the home-course players.

This is the 88th edition of the Emerre and Hathaway Poverty Bay Men’s Open. Day 1 featured two rounds of strokeplay qualifying, followed by matchplay in seven groups of 16.

The 111 players enjoyed glorious weather on a superbly presented course and the scoring reflected this.

Host course member Gerald Kemp posted the best net score of the morning — 84-21-63, which was his best round at the Bay in over 10 years.

Four other players had net 66s — John Smith (Hawke’s Bay), Williams, Gray Clapham (Poverty Bay) and Will Yates (Tolaga Bay).