Collier’s 69 the round of the day in PB Open qualifying

Rotorua’s Mark Smith top qualified over the 36 holes of strokeplay on Day 1 of the Poverty Bay Open on the Awapuni Links course. Smith, a member of the Springfield club, shot 145 (74, 71 to beat Gisborne’s Dan Collier on countback. Picture by Paul Rickard

If Mark Smith continues to improve with each round, a local stranglehold on the Poverty Bay Men’s Open trophy could end tomorrow afternoon.

The former New Zealand representative, who led Bay of Plenty to multiple national interprovincial titles, showed his class in the strokeplay qualifying rounds of the Emerre and Hathaway PB Open on an idyllic Awapuni Links course yesterday.

Smith, a member of the Springfield course in Rotorua, top qualified on 145 (74, 71) although it took a countback to decide the Scott Plate winner.

Electrinet Park member Dan Collier also posted 1-over 145, which included the low round of the day — 3-under 69 in the morning — but because his afternoon score of 76 was higher than Smith’s 71, the visitor earned the No.1 seeding for the championship 16.

Collier’s morning effort including a stunning finish on a new course layout specifically for the Open. He ended birdie, birdie, eagle (on the par-5 18th which is usually the fifth hole). That run went along with three other birdies.

Smith had 16 pars and two bogeys in his 74 but found birdie form in the afternoon — four of them.

Should he go on to win the Keiha Cup championship crown of a tournament dating back to 1931, he would be the first player from outside the Poverty Bay-East Coast, now Tairāwhiti, region  since Taupo’s Bruce Wilson in 2013.

Smith had plenty of outside company in the top 16 heading into this morning’s first round of matchplay over the seven divisions including fellow BoP masters rep Craig Van Der Nagel (Te Puke), who qualified seventh on 152 (78, 74) and Dean Williams, of Canterbury course Amberley, who shot 151 (71, 80) for sixth.

Collier was joined in the top group by three clubmates — 2021 champion Anaru Reedy, who qualified third on 147 (75, 72); Pete Stewart, 10th on 155 (74, 81); and 2007 champion Tony Akroyd, 12th on 156 (76, 80). These four made up the Park team who won the Oligoi Jug interclub pennants this year.

Seven-time PB Open champion Waka Donnelly (of Napier but formerly of Te Puia Hot Springs and Poverty Bay) had probably his best qualifying rounds for several years — 147 (73, 74) — to qualify fourth and give himself another chance of equalling Frank Gordon (8) as the most prolific winner of the Open.

Patutahi has a sole flagbearer in five-time senior club champ Hukanui Brown, who qualified fifth on 150 (75, 75).

Five host course members made the first 16 — Reece Witters on 155 (80, 75); Zach Rolls 156 (77, 79); Glenn Morley 157 (78, 79); 2019 champion Simon Jeune 157 (76, 81); and Marcel Campbell 158 (81 77).

Rolls was one of two teenagers to qualify. Glenn Solomann, of Auckland course Whitford Park but who played pennants for Waikohu this year alongside his dad and 1995 PB Open champion David, snatched the 16th and last seeding with 158 (79, 79).

Big-hitting Hamiltonian Aaron Goddard showed he would be a danger in matchplay in qualifying eighth on 155 (80, 75), his afternoon round featuring six birdies.

The cut-off for the top 16 was 158 — six shots lower than last year, a reflection of plenty of run and the weather.

This morning’s action featured a clash of the city senior club champions, PBEC Masters teammates and former Open winners — Reedy  versus Jeune.

Poverty Bay’s Gerald Kemp produced his best round in over 10 years in qualifying —84 off a 21-handicap — en route to posting the best 36-hole net total of 134, one stroke ahead of Tolaga Bay’s Joe Sheridan, with Poverty Bay’s Hamish Williams another stroke back.

There were a few tales of woe. One local’s century-plus morning round was compared to the 1976 Olympics performance of gymnast Nadia Comaneci . . . it featured three 10s.

Six players qualified for the $1000 Nearest To Pin Challenge held at the end of the tournament including Campbell, who won it last year. The seventh and final qualifier will be decided by clubhouse draw tonight.

Family bragging rights were also earned yesterday. Solomann beat his father by two shots; Marcus Gray beat dad Deevon by four; Dave Jenkins beat son Simon by three; and Tim Mackie beat brother Neil by eight.

Top 16 —

145 — Mark Smith (Springfield) 74, 71; Dan Collier (Electrinet Park) 69, 76

147 — Anaru Reedy (Park) 75, 72; Waka Donnelly (Napier) 73, 74

150 — Hukanui Brown (Patutahi) 75, 75

151 — Dean Williams (Amberley) 71, 80

152 — Craig Van Der Nagel (Te Puke) 78, 74

155 — Aaron Goddard (Hamilton) 80, 75; Reece Witters (Poverty Bay) 80, 75; Pete Stewart (Park) 74, 81

156 — Zach Rolls (PB) 77, 79; Tony Akroyd 76, 80

157 — Glenn Morley (PB) 78, 79; Simon Jenue 76, 81

158 — Marcel Campbell (PB) 81, 77; Glenn Solomann (Whitford Park) 79, 79.