Solomann win only reward for Tairāwhiti

Tairāwhiti’s David Solomann in action on Day 2 of the Freyberg Masters national men’s interprovincial on the Awapuni Links course yesterday. Solomann won his afternoon match.Picture by Paul Rickard

Every sportsperson has had to lick their wounds on occasion.

For Tairāwhiti men’s golf team, the tongues were out yesterday and a cold beer helped ease a little of the pain after two more defeats at the Freyberg Masters interprovincial golf tournament on Poverty Bay’s Awapuni Links course.

The host team were whitewashed 5-0 by Tasman on another rainy morning, then fell 4-1 to Canterbury.

They went into Day 3 and Round 5  today sitting 15th and last on the points table and facing the prospect of a third consecutive wooden spoon finish.

Their position is not from lack of trying. They’re up against quality opposition with resources and playing numbers well beyond their own.

Yesterday simply wasn’t their day — a situation not helped with No.1 Anaru Reedy battling a leg injury and sitting out the morning round.

Masters debutant Neil Hansen took his place — slotting in at No.5 — and added his name to the list who have worn the Poverty Bay-East Coast and now Tairāwhiti Golf colours at this level.

It wasn’t a debut he will remember fondly. Hansen was soundly beaten 6 and 5 by Tasman’s Michael Scholes.

Tony Akroyd shifted up to Reedy’s No.1 slot and lost 2 and 1 to Ben Crawford. No.2 David Solomann lost 1-down to Corey Taylor; No.3 Pete Stewart 3 and 2 to Blair Bavin; and No.4 Jace Brown 5 and 4 to Simon Hollyer.

As he did yesterday, Auckland-based Solomann, a member of Whitford Park and Waikohu, bounced back in fine style against the Cantabs.

Solomon thumped Aaron Forsyth 5 and 4 to give his team their third individual win of the week-long event. Reedy returned to the No.1 slot and lost 3 and 1 to former national amateur champion Andrew Green; No.2 Ākroyd lost 8 and 6 to Woo Bong Kim; No.4 Stewart 3 and 2 to James Howard; and No.5 Jace Brown

6 and 5 to Andrew Dufton.

Bay of Plenty were sitting at the top of the table with a perfect record of four team wins  heading into today’s one round of play.

BoP No.3 Craig Van Der Nagel, runner-up to teammate Mark Smith at the recent Poverty Bay Open, had won all four of his matches.

The Awapuni Links course continued to receive high praise despite the inclement weather.

Tournament director Phil Aickin described it as “amazing”.

“If we  had this in Auckland, there would be a waiting list (for membership) and you’d  be able to charge anything you liked.”

Tairāwhiti faced Taranaki today.