Taranaki win consigns PBEC to last at Freyberg Masters

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Poverty Bay-East Coast fell just short of relinquishing the wooden spoon as the Freyberg Masters interprovincial wrapped up on the Paraparaumu Beach course yesterday.

The bottom-seeded PBEC lost 5-0 to Aorangi in the Round 9 of the over-40s men's matchplay tournament.

They went into the final day 12th out of the 13 provinces, just ahead of Taranaki, who PBEC beat earlier in the week.

But the 'Naki rallied in the final round to beat Southland and leapfrog PBEC.

Fifth-placed Aorangi proved too good for PBEC yesterday afternoon.

PBEC No.1 Anaru Reedy lost 3 and 2, No.2 Simon Jeune was on the wrong end of yet another 18-hole battle, No.3 Dwayne Russell lost 4 and 3, No.4 Tony Akroyd could not mark his birthday (today) with a win, going down 2 and 1, and No.5 Jace Brown lost 5 and 4.

PBEC finished the week-long tournament on one team point and nine individual wins.

Wellington won the title on seven points and 30 individual wins, with Otago second on 6.5 and 27 and Manawatu-Wanganui and Hawke's Bay third-equal on six and 27.