Battle royal in mens open final

Saturday saw the finals of the Club championships being played, which saw some close matches and some that produced unexpectedly comfortable winning margins.
The men's Open Championship was one of the closest for a few years.
This match saw defending champion Ivan Karaitiana playing "young gun" Troy Shaw.
This was expected to be a close match and it lived up to that promise. After the first nine holes, Troy Shaw held a one hole advantage, but that was reversed to a two hole advantage to Ivan Karaitiana after the first round. After twenty seven holes, it was all square. Ivan Karaitiana then produced a burst which saw him take three of the next four holes, but Troy Shaw took the other one of the four to be 2 down. A birdie on the thirty fourth hole by Troy Shaw saw the margin back to one hole, but then Ivan Karaitiana wrapped up the match on the next hole. At this stage, Ivan Karaitiana was one over par and Troy Shaw was only just behind him. This was Ivan Karaitiana's third win in a row, but I have the feeling that his patch to four in a row next year will be even harder.
The Ladies Silver Championship saw Anita Karaitiana defending her title against Sereanna Phillipps. Anita Karaitiana took the early advantage and was three up after the first nine and extended the margin to five at the end of the first round though both players recorded multiple wins on this nine. The next nine holes saw a reasonably even contest, with Anita Karaitiana only extending her margin by one hole, with the match finishing on the thirty first hole.
The men's Intermediate Championship also saw a defending champion in action. Darryl Coley started out well and challenger Jeremy Harp started slowly, with the former four up after six holes. But back to back birdies by Jeremy Harp saw the match back to 2 down after nine. Darryl Coley then produced a superb back nine of even par to extend the margin to five holes after the first round, and then continued the form into the second round, with the match finishing on the twenty eighth hole. Darryl Coley has now won three titles in a row, and the last two have been by convincing margins.
The fourth of the defending champions was Fred Brittain in the Junior A Championship, and he was up against Kevin May. After nine holes, Fred Brittain was two holes ahead, but the match was back to square after eighteen holes. While both players took turns to win holes, the match was still square after twenty seven holes, and it was still in that position after the thirty third hole. A par on the next hole saw Fred Brittain take the lead, but Kevin May holed a good putt on the thirty sixth hole. So it was off to sudden death.
Both players made pars on the first hole, and it was another good putt for par on the second extra hole that saw Kevin May emerge with the win.
The Bronze A Championship saw Janet Campbell take the early lead over Leigh Reiri, and the match ended on the thirty first hole in favour of Janet Campbell.
The men's Junior B Championship saw a youngster in Regan McCabe up against Arona Solomon, who has recently returned to golf after a long lay off. The latter was two up after the first nine holes, but then extended the lead to take the match reasonably comfortably.
The ladies Bronze B Championship saw youngster Jessica Butler up against the well experienced Irene Phelps. Jessica Butler started well and was four up at the turn, but Irene Phelps fought back, but the margin was too great and ended up with Jessica Butler taking a reasonably comfortable win.
The men's consolation events the Lusty and Brockett Cups were also played. In the Lusty Cup, Greg Granich took the first three holes off Laurence Butler and then held on for a four and two win. The Brockett Cup match between Chris Paine and Steve Doherty was reasonably close for a start, with the former just one ahead after the first nine holes, but then it was all one way traffic, with Chris Paine taking the match five and four.
On Sunday, the club competition was a par round, and the overall scoring was very good. The best score on the day was the 8 up score returned by Maurice O'Reilly in taking out the second group, with Arona Solomon the runner up on 5 up, with Paul Haxton and Martin Andrew both on 4 up. In the first group, Ivan Karaitiana led the way with a score of 4 up, followed by Bruce Herangi on 2 up and Lance Duckett on 2 up. Holes in two were scored by Ivan Karaitiana, Paul Haxton, Colin McAuley, Graham Duckett and Lance Duckett, who scored two of them and also took out the "bird's nest".
On Tuesday, the veterans played in the postponed round of the Haddon Donald Trophy. The best score of the day was the 43 points scored by Nancy Baylis in taking out the second group from Irene Phelps on 38 points and Susan Christall on 32. In the first group, Heather Small led the way on 39 points, from Mei Hakaraia on 37 and Jean Bayly on 36.
In the men's competition, Ray Loader took the group one honours with 40 points, from Doug Simpson on 39, Peter Campbell on 38 and Steve Doherty on 35. Group two went to Bill Christiansen on 38, from Bruce Wilson on 37 and Bevan Hefferen and Trevor Oliver on 35 points.
The nearest to the pins were very much a family affair, with Maria Lauvi taking both the ladies ones on the third and sixth holes, while Meki Lauvi took both of the men's one on the sixth and seventh holes. Holes in two were score b Fred Brittain, Bill Christiansen and Maria Lauvi.
Next weeks competition for the veterans will be a bisque par, while the following week will be the final round of the Haddon Donald Trophy.
Fast approaching is the Copthorne Solway Park Resort Wairarapa Open Men's Fourball Best Ball Tournament, which will be played on Sunday 9th November. The entry sheet for the tournament is in the club house foyer.