Top golfers gather for Waitangi Pro Am

An up-and-coming golfer from Rotorua who has started making a name for himself on the professional circuit won the Harcourts Waitangi Pro-Am title on Friday.

Peter Lee survived a playoff against including two more experienced pros, Mount Maunganui's Josh Geary and Ryan Fox of Auckland, to claim his first NZ PGA Mondiale Order of Merit title for the 2014 season.

Lee carded six birdies and no errors in posting a 66, a new course record - for a brief time at least until he was joined by Mount Maunganui's Josh Geary who, in contrast to Lee's error-free card, mixed five birdies and two eagles with three consecutive bogeys on 8, 9 and 10. Late in the day, Ryan Fox of Auckland also chipped in with a 66 score featuring only one mistake on the par four ninth hole, plus seven birdies.

This took the trio into a playoff, where the rookie Lee emerged triumphant over the two experienced tour pros by playing down the middle and holing the birdie putt.

Friday's play at Waitangi also saw 32 teams made up of one professional and three amateurs playing in a best 3 of 4 stableford format. This was taken out by a local team, the Nerdies with 126 points and featuring professional player Keiran Muir, who hit 68 off the stick in the Pro-Am beside locals Duncan Robertson, Gordan Morgan and Garry 'Nerdy' Forrest.

Tournament director Dave Winslow noted this was the first Pro-Am event to be held at Waitangi since the years between 1982-88, when Frank Nobilo won the PGA event trophy twice. Apparently, during a recent clean-out, several club stalwarts discovered the old trophy - carrying the names of the likes of Nobilo, Richard Ellis, Dennis 'Yogi' Clarke, Geoff Smart, Barry Vivian and Gary Grut - which became the catalyst for the resurrection of the Pro-Am.

Winslow described the event as an unqualified success .

"It all went exceptionally well, we had a full field, everyone was very complimentary. The course was in fantastic order, many of the pros said they were the best greens they have played on for a while," said Winslow, adding this was a tribute to the work done by greenkeeper Alan Smithyman and his band of helpers. He also confirmed the club will host the Pro-Am again next year.

Full results from the Harcourts Waitangi Pro-Am can be found on PGA website.

Kaitaia ladies

The Kaitaia ladies played the first round of Nancy McCormick, a nationwide competition of foursomes last Wednesday and saw some serious contenders emerging with excellent scores.

Top scorers were Mary Williams and Julie Yates 62 nett, followed by Lesley Masters and Glenys Rogers 66, Lynn Masters and Kerry Rolleston 67 etc; while three pairs shared the 2s jackpot, Flo Smith Ellen Wright, Marj Duncan Anne Squire, and Liz Smith Raewyn Shaw. The 9-holers nett winners were Noeline Masters and Dulcie Cameron, both with 35.

Tomorrow sees round 2 of the Nancy McCormick tournament being played with the draw being: No.1: 9.30 A Squire, M Duncan and N Gregory, R Steed; 9.40 A Booth, J Switzer and R Shaw, L Smith; 9.50 M Williams, J Yates and L Masters, G Rogers; No 9: 9.30 N Robson, B Muller and J Carnachan, L Proctor; 9.40 V Simpson, L Busby and L Nelley, P Watkins; 9.50 E Hammond, A Mulcahy and R Harrison, E Knightbridge. Others wanting to play can report by 9.15 while the 9-holers tee off at 10.30am.