Sellar Trophy back

Last Saturday the Club staged the Sellar Trophy, the men's 36 hole stroke play championship.
This event has basically evolved from the club championship. Not so long ago there were two sections to the champs ? firstly, entrants played over two rounds of stroke play. From this the top qualifiers in each grade were found, and they went on to a match play contest, culminating in the finals, usually over 36 holes.
A few years ago the club dispensed with the stroke play segment, leaving the competition to match play. Players are strictly seeded according to their handicap and the draw is made accordingly. This seems to have been accepted happily enough, but it did leave the club without a major stroke play competition for the men. When he was Club Captain Graeme Jones conceived the idea of running a special 36 hole contest, using the old Sellar Trophy into the bargain. In the past the Sellar Trophy had gone to the top qualifier in the stroke play section of the championship so it was most appropriate that the Trophy should be used in this fashion.
What sort of Trophy is the Sellar? Well, it's a putter which belonged to Mick Sellar's uncle, J A Sellar, a former member of the club and winner of the Senior Championship, away back in 1904, so last year marked the centenary of that win.
While J A Sellar had not been a principal of the firm, Sellar and Sellar were only too happy to sponsor the event, so the whole thing has worked out very satisfactorily.
Now as far as last Saturday is concerned the winner of the Senior section and the Sellar Trophy itself was Simon Dew. Despite an ugly three over 8 at the last hole, Simon made no race of it with a fine 68 in the morning followed by a 72 in the afternoon for a total of 140, or two under the card.
In the Intermediate grade, Andy Hale and Geoff Masters, both with 83s, were in front at lunch time but then Robert Stewart charged home with an 81 for another clear cut victory on a total of 166.
In a small field of Juniors, Paul E Williams did best with 178, while Ash Peterson won the Masters, a net competition, on 143.
There was an 18 hole competition in the afternoon, a stroke event, with just the one group. Now if he was a race horse, I'd have him in the swabbing stall smartly, but it seems that Alex Tulloch with a net 69 was the overall winner ahead of Robert Young who, with 70, took second on a count back from Kevin Mackay.
Hannah Meulenbroek continued her recent good form to win the women's stableford. Nearest the pin prizes went to Hannah Meulenbroek at the Reeves Office Products 8th hole, Alex Tulloch at the Fire Services 11th, Nigel Udy at the Money Managers 18th and Roger Gardner at the Alex McLeod 8th hole.
On Monday in fine sunny conditions 45 Vets played in their weekly stableford.
Women: Bib Vallance 26 pts 1st, Sylvia Howden 25 pts 2nd, Beryl Stuart 24 pts 3rd.
Men Group 1: Jim Picking 27 pts 1st, John Worley 26 pts 2nd, David Logan 25 pts 3rd.
Men Group 2: Gerry Verhaart 26 pts 1st, Graham Steffert 23 pts 2nd, Brian Jury 23 pts 3rd.
Nearest the pin prizes at the Fagan Ford 8th hole went to Kel Biggs and Bib Vallance.
Incidentally, the Masterton Vets hosted a visit from a group of their counterparts from Carterton on Monday.
Last Tuesday the women's Provincial Insurance Brokers Wairarapa Open 36 hole stroke play event was staged in lovely conditions with a good field of 43 in three divisions. After the morning round the lead was shared by Debbie Hewitt and Robyn Guildford, both on 80, just ahead of Anita Karaitiana on 81. Debbie Hewitt is from Hastings and is Bob Todd's daughter.
The final results after the afternoon round are as follows:
Best Overall Gross and winner of the Sylvia Howden Cup: Debbie Hewitt
Group 1:
Best Gross: Robyn Guildford 161 1st, Anita Karaitiana 163 2nd.
Best Nett: Deidre Walker 146 1st, Edith Clarkson 148 2nd.
Stableford: Brenda Blatchford 69 1st, Jane Williams 68 2nd.
Long Drive: Deidre Walker. Nearest the Pin: Anita Karaitiana
Group 2:
Best Gross: Pauline McKenzie 182 1st, Linda Cameron 185 2nd.
Best Nett: Joy Cowan 151 1st, Carolyn Stevenson 153 2nd.
Stableford: Lusiana Williams 64 1st, Gail Freeman 63 2nd.
Long Drive: Carolyn Springer. Nearest the pin: Gail Freeman.
Group 3:
Best Gross: Cindy Giles 186 1st, Jo Bird 188 2nd.
Best Nett: Lorraine Stewart 155 1st, Ngaire Stevens 153 2nd.
Stableford: Vicki Bain 61 1st, Kaye McIsaac 58 2nd.
Long Drive: Kaye McIsaac. Nearest the Pin: Cindy Giles.
This coming Saturday, April 23, features a "top ten" stableford, that is, a stableford event where the player discards his eight poorest holes with obviously just the top ten scores counting. It is also a further qualifying round for the Markham's shoot-out competition.
Next Monday, Anzac Day, April 25, sees the staging of another of the very popular Margaret Wallace Days. Begun many years ago by Margaret herself, the club continues the tradition of a drink and a few nibbles before the golf action itself. The competition is a Mixed Combined Stableford, but there are sure to be more men than women, so there is a separate combined stableford for the men who miss out in the draw. I am assured by Graeme Jones that those men who came with a female will definitely be part of the main competition, though not necessarily with the partner that you come along with. I hope that makes sense ? ring Graeme if you don't follow me.
Anyway, get your cards in by 11.30 am for a shot-gun start just after 12 noon. Entry fee is $5.00. It should be a good day for all concerned.
Further ahead to Saturday and Sunday, May 7/8, may I remind the men that the club is staging the prestigious Trust House Wairarapa Open 72 hole stroke play event. Remember that there is a maximum of 32 Intermediates in their grade and 64 in the Seniors so it won't pay to leave it any longer or you'll miss out.