Golf: Aucklanders take Classic spoils back with them

Auckland has won the top prizes in the Classic.

All three Bream Bay Classic trophies are heading south after Aucklanders won the top prizes in what is the pinnacle event on the Northland club golf calendar.

Auckland representatives, and Titirangi members, Sam An, Brittney Dryland, and Dell Bain (Whitford Park) claimed the men's, women's, and masters titles respectively in the Classic.

Renowned for its breathtaking views and strong winds, the Waipu links did not disappoint with conditions particularly tough on day one.

Featuring a stiff easterly breeze on day one over the weekend, Whangarei's Kadin Neho - the 2013 champion - got his title defence off to the best possible start with an opening round three under par 69 that earned him an early two-stroke lead.

As the winds picked up for the afternoons second round former New Zealand representative An made his move to the top of the leader board, a superb seven-under-par 65 seeing him surpass Neho to take a three-shot lead going in to Sunday's third and final round.

Early bogies from Neho widened the gap, one that would not be closed as An was clinical in closing out the tournament.

An went on to card a second sub-par round, this time a five-under 67 and with it a comfortable nine-shot win.

The women's competition featured a dramatic finish where Waipu's Kylie Jacoby came unstuck with a double bogey at the final hole with Dryland making par - the two-shot swing left the two tied atop the leaderboard on 236.

A sudden death play-off followed which Dryland won.

The weekend's event also features as the final trial before the naming of the Northland teams to play North Harbour in the Great Northern Battle at Mangawhai Golf Club on Sunday.

Despite the locals missing out on the major prizes Northland Golf development manager Michael Macdonald was pleased with the contingent.

"If you look back to where we were 12 months ago, we had Kadin win but nobody else inside the top 15," he said. "This year we have five guys in the top 10."

The match against North Harbour this week is the province's largest in terms of players fielded, with 38 players across a number of categories. The teams in playing order are:

Northland Open Men: Kadin Neho (Whangarei), Alex Neely (Bay of Islands Kerikeri), Chase McKeown (Waipu), Sheldon Kearns (Waipu), Luke Brown (The Pines), Brad Bonnington (Wellsford), Lee Neumann (Northland), Braden Keown (Waipu), Lee Newman (Mangawhai), Michael Macdonald (Northland).

Northland Senior Women: Brooke Kingi (Whangaroa), Jodi Macalister (Northern Wairoa), Sam Dangen (Whangaroa), Kylie Jacoby (Waipu), Sjanna Bonnington (Wellsford), Daniele Lowe (Wellsford), Alyana Cox (Wellsford), Jo Taylor (Waipu).

Junior Boys Under 19: Taylor Gill (Bay of Islands Kerikeri), Christian Nitsche (Whangarei), Ben Kennedy (Houhora), Matt Pene (Northland). Reserve: Jackson Arkle (Northland).

Junior Boys Under 16: Julian Fowler (Northland), Daniel Millett (Northland), Ben Bowmar (Whangarei), Steven Lang (Northland). Reserve: Christopher Shepherd (Whangarei).

Junior Girls: Belinda May (Northland), Taimana Ngakuru (Northland), Taylor Wyatt-Logan (Whangaroa), Danielle Ngakuru (Whangarei).

Masters Men: Saali Herewini (Whangarei), Peter Bone (Whangarei), Iain Power (Northland), Scott Wilson (Waitangi), Bob Shirley (Carrington), Tony Mayo (Waipu), Leon Tasker (Kaitaia), Richard Poole (Bay of Islands Kerikeri).