Solomann ends BoP star’s winning streak

Tairāwhiti No.3 David Solomann chalked up his fourth win of the week in Round 7 of the Freyberg Masters national interprovincial in Gisborne yesterday. Solomann brought Bay of Plenty’s Craig Van Der Nagel’s six-match winning streak to an end 2 and 1. BoP won 4-1 to remain top of the table and in sight of the title heading into the last day today. Picture by Paul Rickard

He’s known to most as “Solly” but David Solomann has earned himself another nickname at the Freyberg Masters men’s interprovincial tournament in Gisborne this week . . . “Afternoon Specialist”.

Solomann collected a huge scalp as his host Tairāwhiti team lost their rounds 6 and 7 clashes on the Awapuni Links course yesterday.

The Auckland-based Gisborne Boys’ High School old boy, who played interclub pennants golf for Waikohu this year, ended Craig Van Der Nagel’s six-match winning streak as Tairawhiti lost 4-1 to top-of-the-table Bay of Plenty in the afternoon round.

It was Solomann’s fourth win of the tournament at No.3 in the five-man order and all three have come in the pm, including Wednesday’s delayed .

Round 5 where he also brought to an end an unbeaten run (of Taranaki’s Phil Hooper).

Yesterday’s 2 and 1 defeat was of a player (Van Der Nagel) well known to the Tairāwhiti squad over their representative careers and through his appearances at the Poverty Bay Open, including a runner-up finish to BoP teammate Mark Smith in the 2023 edition in September.

Smith, who has lost just once this week, was pushed all the way by Tairāwhiti No.2  Tony Akroyd before getting over the line 1-up.

The pair turned on a show on the 18th hole. Both put spectacular approaches to about 4-feet from the pin and birdied. Difference was Smith was 1-up playing the hole.

Tairāwhiti No.1 Anaru Reedy lost 4 and 3 to Jason McIntosh; No.4 Pete Stewart lost 5 and 3 to Blair Dibley; and No.5 Jace Brown gave Mark Hughes a scare before losing 1-down — Brown’s best showing of the week so far.

Earlier, Akroyd provided the highlight of Tairāwhiti’s 4-1 loss to a Hawke’s Bay side who have found their mojo.

On the back of a Round  5 dismantling of Auckland, Hawke’s Bay ran out relatively comfortable victors over their neighbours, then defeated Northland 3½-1½ in Round 7.

Akroyd was the stand-out against the men in black.

Fresh from his Round 5 win against Taranaki, Akroyd put away Hawke’s Bay No.2 Michael Trass 4 and 3.

Stewart went agonisingly close to posting his first points for his province, losing 1-down to Mike Harvey-Fitzgerald.

Reedy was beaten 4 and 3 by Doug Holloway; an out-of-sorts Solomann lost 5 and 4 to Jared McGillicuddy; and Brown fell 4 and 2 to Nick Radonich.

By the end of the day, Tairāwhiti remained 15th and bottom of the table on half a team point and 7½ individual wins.

They had a bye this morning then faced second-last Southland (½ a team point; 11½ individual wins) in the afternoon in a clash to decide the wooden spoon. Southland also had a bye this morning.

At the other end of the table, BoP were up against Manawatū Wanganui this morning in their last tie as they have a bye in the afternoon. Victory would seal the crown for BoP and avoid a nervous afternoon wait.

Standings after seven rounds:

Bay of Plenty (played 7) 6½ team points; 24 individual points

Auckland (6) 5; 20

Wellington (6) 4½; 19

Hawke's Bay (7) 4; 18

North Harbour (6) 4; 18

Manawatū Wanganui (6) 4; 17

Tasman (6) 3½; 17

Canterbury (6) 3; 18

Otago (6) 3; 14

Aorangi (6) 3; 12½

Waikato (6) 2½; 15

Taranaki (6) 1½; 13

Northland (6) 1½; 10½

Southland (7) ½; 11½

Tairāwhiti (7) ½; 7½