Pro-am attracts plenty of talent

This coming weekend features the third staging of the ING Eketahuna-Masterton Pro-am Tournament.
Already, in the three years, the event has become a big occasion on the golfing calendar, both for the professionals and the amateurs with a full field carded, plus a waiting list.
The field consists of 36 teams of four, with 35 of those teams consisting of 3 amateurs and one professional. The 36th team includes the guest celebrity who, this year, will be the great New Zealand batsman, Martin Crowe, who plays off a 3.3 handicap, so obviously he is no slug at the game. Incidentally previous celebrities have been rugby players with Andrew Mehrtens doing the job in style last year.
The golf professionals include some notable New Zealand names with the list headed by Sir Bob Charles, back after missing last year's event. It is interesting to note that Alistair Sidford is back too, after a break, because it was in the inaugural 2004 tournament that Sidford shot two great 65s to win the Pros Section, while Charles also did very well to be runner up.
Other professionals in the field include last year's winner, Tim Wilkinson, ranked 49th on the United States Nationwide Golf Circuit. Then there is Grant Moorhead who, as an amateur, was a member of the 1992 Eisenhower Cup winning team and who was ranged top in the NZPGA order of merit for 2005.
The professionals are competing for generous cash prizes while the amateurs look to win one of the numerous team prizes. There are also numerous team prizes because, apart from the major sponsors Trust House and ING, local businesses have fronted up in numbers also. There is a draw at the function tomorrow (Friday) when the professionals are matched up with their respective teams.
As far as the teams' competition is concerned, it is a stableford with the professionals contributing to their team's results. This year, please note, three of the four stableford scores on each hole count towards the total.
The Tournament kicks off at Eketahuna on Saturday with a shot-gun start at 11am, continuing on Sunday at Lansdowne with another shot-gun start, this time at 10am. Members of the public are very welcome to follow the action with the only charge being by way of a gold coin. I am not sure about Eketahuna but I do know that at Masterton the caterers will be there all day and only too happy to provide you with your needs.
Last Saturday saw the 2006 season under way in blistering hot conditions with golfers only too happy to get back inside for a long cool one. There was a stroke competition, coupled with a Markhams shoot-out qualifier with Geoff Masters turning in the best result in Group1, Sofi Fanua tops in Group 2 and Lusiana Williams best in the women's section. Nearest the pin prizes were won by Sofi Fanua at the Alex McLeod 8th, Arthur Sandford at the Fire Services 11th, Ray Verhaart at the Money Managers 18th and Jan McLaren at the Office Products Depot 8th hole.
Last Saturday also marked the trials for the men's Wellington Interclub competitions. Masterton will be entering three teams in the same grades as last season, namely Division 2 (36 holes), Division 3 (18 holes) and Division 6 (18 holes). If you haven't already indicated your willingness to participate, contact the teams' convenor, Phil Rutene, right away.
The teams for the first round will be posted on the notice board this weekend with the Styleline Homes Division 2 team having their first contest on February 11, while the others start a week later.
Incidentally round of the day from the trialists on Saturday came from young Harry Bateman who equalled the course record with his brilliant 65.
On Monday, in humid conditions, the Vets got their season under way with an Ambrose event. Winning team with 37 points comprised Keith Nelson, Robin Whitehead, Helen Falloon and Colin Henwood. The four of Beryl Stuart, Graham Chandler, Brian Maunsell and Richard Falloon were second on 36 points, while Sylvia Howden, Ken
Sadler, Peter Connell and Kel Biggs with 37 points came in third.
Robin Whitehead and Peg Napier took the nearest the pin prize at the Fagan Ford 8th hole.
On Tuesday, in very hot conditions, 50 women had their Opening Day, a 12 hole "Scratch and Scramble", with several 9 holers and Vets making up the field. Clear cut winners were the team of Patsy Ogg, Carol Morgan, Jan Thompson and Jo Philps, ahead of the group comprising Liz Jones, Marion Long, Sue Falloon and Pam Griffith. It was a good fun day with a cheerful after-match meal upstairs afterwards. The women are delighted to receive sponsorship for their weekly competition from Majestic Motors.
Off the Fairway
One of the teams in the Pro-am is the Newbolds' side, under the baton of John Hegginbotham, who incidentally is a generous sponsor of the event. John has been working frantically to get his handicap listed, and has now accumulated enough cards, including several from Riversdale Beach. Unfortunately someone, somewhere along the line, has typed in "Riversdale", rather than the full name. Now there is a Riversdale Club, down in Southland, with a course rating of 70 as against the 58 for the beach club. John's handicap, as a result, was originally shown at 4.8 which I think he would have trouble matching. Relax John, we've got it sorted out ? you'll be on a handicap more in keeping with your ability.