News, results from around Gisborne and East Coast golf courses

Forget about 2025 being the Warriors' year. For those golfers who have never experienced the ultimate shot, including a certain Gisborne Herald Golf Roundup editor who produced this agonisingly close shot earlier this month at Poverty Bay's par-three sixth hole, 2025 could be the one. Is it skill? Is it luck? Is it both? We don't care. We just want one and that "we" includes quality players like former Poverty Bay Open champion Simon Jeune and Poverty Bay course superintendent and former scratch handicapper Rowan Clark - which strengthens the case for those who claim it's nothing but "a fluke". The odds of getting an ace actually do depend on your skill level. It is 12,500 to one for your average amateur, 5000 to one for a low handicapper and 2500 to one for a pro, according to golfpass.com

Poverty Bay

It’s time to play the music and light the lights for the 2025 edition of the Fulton Hogan mercantile Friday Ambrose Team Series affectionately known as FATS.

The six-hole, four-person ambrose starts on Friday and runs for four weeks, giving golfers and non-golfers an experience blending competitive with social.

Mercantile golf, back in the day, was hugely popular. Held over nine holes for a lengthier summer period, it attracted big numbers – the 19th hole filled to the brim each week.

The Gisborne Herald, under the pirate-like captaincy of Paul “Rick” Rickard, took the party atmosphere to a new level en route to winning the inaugural mercantile crown – beer, banter and a rowdy cheerleading squad led by Julie “Jules” Elliott and Jason “Mushroom” Phillips their recipe for success.

While contributing immensely to the profit margins of certain beer companies, the Herald produced such famous moments as making a double-eagle/albatross on their first hole (the par-five fifth) and the late Otto Dunn stunningly sinking a Tiger Woods-like pitch shot for birdie from an almost impossible spot behind the green on the 16th.

Meanwhile, there were accusations of “professionalism,” as now-retired Rickard dominated the club competition on Sunday.

Former Gisborne Herald photographer Rick, who plays three times a week in his more leisurely lifestyle these days, had his best round since June 2021 in winning the division two Stableford with 82-17-65, for 43 points.

Other competition winners over the week were John Williams (39 points) and Tene Goldsmith (38) on Thursday, Stu Harbottle (40) and Murray Smith (38) on Saturday, and Tony Akroyd (35) on Sunday.

The women got their season officially away on Wednesday with their first Stableford of the year. Maxine Francois led a trio who each totalled 38 points. Rose Pettigrew (21pts) was the best of the nine-holers.

The Country Foods Primo Cup starts on Saturday in the form of a club net competition. Now an established annual competition, the Primo Cup culminates in a one-off end-of-season decider for which players qualify over various club competitions.

Hawke’s Bay Golf Referees Association is running a Level One rules course at Poverty Bay Golf Club on Monday, March 31, and Monday, April 7, from 5.30pm to 7pm. A practical session is on Wednesday, April 9, at 4pm and a one-hour exam will be held on Monday, April 14, at 5.30pm. Duncan Bush will be the presenter. Registrations close on March 26. Inquiries to Lance Williams 021 130 0089 or lance_k_whotmail.com

WEDNESDAY - Women’s Stableford: M. Francois 38, A. Witters 38, P. Wanklyn 38.

9-hole women’s Stableford: A. Pettigrew 21.

TUESDAY - Veterans' Stableford: B. Morrissey 36, J. Jenner 36, P. Rickard 34, C. Carmody 33, N. Jones 33, L. Owen 33.

SUNDAY - Men’s Stableford, division one: T. Akroyd 35, J. Situ 35, A. Hayward 35, C. Taewa 34, D. Patumaka 34.

Division two: P. Rickard 43, D. Robertson 38, R. Gibson 37, R. Chalmers 36.

Twos: D. Patumaka, A. White, A. Carrie, L. Hewson.

Approach: A. Carrie.

SATURDAY - Men’s Stableford, division one: S. Harbottle 40, J. Van Helden 39, C. Palmer 37, M. Callaghan 37.

Division two: M. Smith 38, J. Kerekere 38, G. Clapham 37, K. Gunness 36, T. Loomis 36.

Twos: W. Mortleman, S. Harbottle, J. Van Helden.

Approach: S. Harbottle.

THURSDAY (February 6) - Men’s Stableford, division one: T. Goldsmith 38, J. Van Helden 36, M. Lewin 36, S. Andreassen 35, S. Jeune 35, I. Murphy 35.

Division two: J. Williams 39, H. Johanson 38, W. Thompson 38, B. Read 38.

Approach: S. Andreassen.

WEDNESDAY (February 5) - Twilight Stableford, women’s division: S. Gray 20, C. Holland 19.

Men, front nine: G. Hannah 21, A. Lawler 21, D. Bullivant 20, R. Ludwig 20, J. Tietjen 19, M. Jones 19, L. Bates 19, J. Douglas 18, K. Tamatea 18, J. Partington 18, J. Rowe 18.

Men, back nine: M. Devery 20, G. Tattersfield 19.

COMING UP: SATURDAY, February 22, Reynolds Cup and associated trophies men’s handicap matchplay qualifying.

Patutahi

Waitangi Day at the Tahi was marked by a personal best, a hot round from a local legend and the best performance in two years from another member.

Antonio Zame, who became a full-time member only a year ago, notched a PB in a runaway victory in the division two men’s net with 84-20-64.

Club stalwart Helen Pomana clearly enjoys playing on February 6. She won the women’s net with 89-24-65, her first sub-90 since an 88 a year to the day.

Ben Cameron posted his lowest round in two years – winning the division one men’s section with 76-12-64.

Dave Skudder discovered his best form in several months to win the division two men’s net on Sunday with 86-23-63.

Pat Molloy’s 76-10-66 won division one while Sheree Gray’s women’s Stableford-winning 39 points including the jackpot.

SUNDAY - Net competition, division one men: P. Molloy 66, G. Hawea 68, T. Hindmarsh 69, B. McKenzie 69, P. Summersby 69.

Division two men: D. Skudder 63, J. Blair 67, G. Tattersfield 67.

Women: S. Gray 39, H. Humble 38.

Twos: A. Hindmarsh, P. Johnston, S. Gray.

Women’s jackpot: S. Gray.

FRIDAY - Meat pack nine-hole Stableford, division one: D. Pohatu 21, A. Blakeman 21, W. Aupouri 21, T. Sharp 21, Sel Skudder 20.

Division two: B. Tietjen 20, D. Skudder 20, A. Zame 20, C. Kirkpatrick 20, J, Tietjen 20.

THURSDAY (February 6) - Voucher net, division one men: B. Cameron 64, P. Summersby 65, M. Smith 67, B. McKenzie 68, S. Toa 68.

Division two men: A. Zame 60, B. Tietjen 68, Sel Skudder 68.

Women: H. Pomana 65, D. Johnston 68, K. Burrows 69.

COMING UP: SATURDAY, Patutahi Golf Club Ladies Open, morning tea 9.30am, tee-off 10.30am, also features round 1 of the Tairāwhiti women’s pennants; Sunday, Patutahi Open Opening Tournament, 11am tee-off, Canadian mixed foursomes and men’s sections, contact George Brown on 027 370 9869 or horiboy1@xtra.co.nz.

Waikohu

Andrea Reeves’ putter was a branding iron on Sunday.

Reeves won the women’s putting with just 25 putts, while Tom Smith’s 100-28-72, for 34 points, was enough to top the men’s Stableford.

SUNDAY - Men’s Stableford: T. Smith 34, K. Ruru 32, R. Reeves 32.

Women’s putting: A. Reeves 25, C. Te Rito 31, M. Tuapawa 32.

COMING UP: SUNDAY, free day; SUNDAY, Feb 23, meeting at 9.30am, followed by handicap singles semifinals.

Te Puia Hot Springs

Daryl Goldsmith and Iritana Ngarimu’s 19th-hole drinks were victory sweet on Sunday.

Goldsmith won the men’s Stableford with 40 points while Ngarimu eased to a five-stroke win in the women’s net courtesy of her 98-27-71.

SUNDAY - Women’s net: I. Ngarimu 98-27-71, H. McClutchie 94-18-76.

Men’s Stableford: D. Goldsmith 40, P. Ngarimu 35, W. Mannering 35

Twos: R. Ngatai.

COMING UP: SUNDAY, round one of the Jo Hale Memorial series.

Electrinet Park

THURSDAY (February 6) - Gordon’s Pharmacy twilight Stableford: Blue Toa 20, W. Muir 19.

Long drive: I. Loffler.

Approach: D. Collier.

Monkey on the back: J. Adams.

Mahia

COMING UP: SATURDAY, February 22, Mahia opening day, 11am tee-off, Canadian mixed foursomes and men’s sections, 18-hole Stableford, entry includes meal and twos, eftpos available, maximum handicap 36 for men 40.4 for women, contact Maraea 0272292342.