Park, Poverty Bay emerge triumphant after dramatic day of pennants at Mahia

DANIEL Collier couldn’t beat William Brown in the morning.

And he couldn’t beat him in the afternoon.

But when it came to the sudden-death crunch in the Oligoi Jug men’s interclub pennants semifinals at Mahia on Sunday, Collier delivered.

On a tense and wind-blasted day of matchplay in challenging conditions, Collier’s Electrinet Park (1) team and Poverty Bay booked spots in the 36-hole final  to make it an all-city 2023 title decider at the end of the month.

It was probably the most dramatic day in Oligoi Jug history, starting in the morning with the final round of round-robin and continuing into top-four and bottom-four afternoon semifinals — three of those requiring extra holes to find a winner.

Round 7 in the morning saw Poverty Bay come through to snatch the fourth and final top-four semi spot.

Their 6-2 defeat of Park (2) drew them level on points with defending champions Park (1), who claimed third on countback.

That set up two mouthwatering top-four semifinals — No.1 seeds Patutahi (1) v Poverty Bay, and second qualifiers Te Puia Springs v Park (1). Both lived up to the hype.

Poverty Bay, the most successful club in the history of the pennants, edged Patutahi (1) 5-3 through 5 and 4 wins to Quin McPike (against Eddie Brown Jr) and David Situ (against Dean Pohatu), and a come-from-behind half from Glenn Morley.

No.1 Morley was 2-down with two holes to play against Hukanui Brown, but won both with pars to seal his team’s spot in the final.

The Springs-Park (1) tussle ended 4-4. They had already met in the morning — Te Puia running out 7-1 victors — but the afternoon proved a different story.

Springs No.1 Brown completed his second 4 and 3 defeat of Collier on the day and Mahia/Te Puia joint member Wade Wesche won his match against Silas Brown.

But Park responded with a Tony Akroyd birdie on the 18th ending Andrew Higham’s perfect 2023 win streak at seven and Peter Stewart toppling John Wyllie.

That meant a one-on-one sudden-death playoff. No.1s William Brown and Collier returned to the 180-metre par-3 sixth hole and drew their swords as darkness descended.

Collier put his tee shot to about 12 feet of the pin, and left his birdie attempt on the edge of the cup.

Brown missed the green with his tee shot, pitched to about 6 feet away, then watched as his par putt to stay alive horseshoed the hole and sat on the edge.

It was no surprise that both bottom-four semis went to an extra hole.

As it turned out, Waikohu, Park (2), Patutahi (2) and Tolaga Bay all ended round-robin play on 20 points.

Tim Adamson was the hero for Tolaga Bay as he beat Bailey Matoe of Park (2) on the first sudden-death hole.

Likewise for Jace Brown of Patutahi (2) against David Solomann of Waikohu.

Jace had a memorable day, winning his match for Patutahi (1) in the morning (5 and 4 against Solomann), shifting to Patutahi (2) and beating Oligoi debutant Ethine Reeves in the afternoon, then sealing Patutahi (2) a place in the Pounamu Trophy (5th-6th playoff) with the sudden-death triumph.

All finals are at Poverty Bay on May 28, alongside the last and deciding round of the Endeavour men’s interclub handicap pennants. The Endeavour pennants are delicately poised.

Oligoi Jug results —

Round 7 — Poverty Bay 6 Electrinet Park (2) 2 (PB names first): Glenn Morley halved with Matt Henwood; Mark Jefferson def Craig Christophers 3 and 2; Quin McPike def Sel Peneha 5 and 4; David Situ halved with Bailey Matoe.

Patutahi (1) 7 Waikohu 1: Dwayne Russell def Glenn Solomann 3 and 2; Jace Brown def David Solomann 5 and 4; Eddie Brown Jr def Percy Milner 4 and 2; Dean Pohatu halved with Terry Reeves.

Te Puia Springs 7  Park (1) 1: William Brown def Daniel Collier 4 and 3; Andrew Higham def Tony Akroyd 3 and 1; Wade Wesche halved with Pete Stewart; Jason Devery def Silas Brown 3 and 2.

Patutahi (2) 4 Tolaga Bay 4: Reef Pohatu lost to Taine Lincoln 1-down; Chris Beattie halved with Bruce Yates; Wynne MacLellan def Will Yates; Pat Hokianga and Tim Adamson halved.

Standings after round-robin play (seven rounds): Patutahi (1) 48; Te Puia Springs 40; Park (1) 28; Poverty Bay 28; Waikohu 20; Park (2) 20; Patutahi (2) 20; Tolaga Bay 20.

Semifinals,  Top  4 — Poverty Bay 5 Patutahi (1) 3: Glenn Morley halved with Hukanui Brown; Mark Jefferson lost to Dwayne Russell 5 and 3; Quin McPike def Eddie Brown Jr 5 and 4; David Situ def Dean Pohatu 5 and 4.

Te Puia Springs 4 Park (1) 4: William Brown def Daniel Collier 4 and 3; Andrew Higham lost to Tony Akroyd 1-down; John Wyllie lost to Pete Stewart 2 and 1; Wade Wesche def Silas Brown 4 and 3.

Collier def Brown in sudden-death playoff.  Park (1) won.

Bottom 4 — Park (2) 4 Tolaga Bay 4: Matt Henwood lost to Taine Lincoln 4 and 2; Craig Christophers lost to Bruce Yates 1-down; Sel Peneha def Will Yates 3 and 2; Bailey Matoe def Tim Adamson 1-up.

Adamson def Matoe in sudden-death playoff. Tolaga Bay won.

Patutahi (2) 4 Waikohu 4: Reef Pohatu lost to David Solomann 5 and 4; Chris Beattie def Percy Milner 1-up; Wynne MacLellan lost to Glenn Solomann 7 and 6; Jace Brown def Ethine Reeves 3 and 2.

Jace Brown def David Solomann in sudden-death playoff. Patutahi (2) won.

Draw for finals day (at Poverty Bay, May 28) — Oligoi Jug final (1st-2nd), 36 holes: Poverty Bay v Electrinet Park (1).

Bronze final (3rd-4th), 18 holes: Patutahi (1) v Te Puia Springs.

Pounamu Trophy final (5th-6th), 18 holes: Tolaga Bay v Patutahi (2).

7th-8th playoff, 18 holes: Park (2) v Waikohu.

- The golfing community’s thoughts and prayers are with Andrew Higham and his whānau after he was critically injured in a car crash at Mahia the morning after the pennants. His golfing “brothers” have voiced their support via social media as he faces his ultimate battle. “You got this Andy.”