Storm fails to halt play

Despite the awfulness of our weather, and in particular the violent winds on Friday and Saturday, the men's Club Championships in Masterton managed to get through to the finals, which are due to be held next Sunday. In virtually every semifinal the result was in doubt until the very last hole.
The two Senior semifinals held last Thursday set the pattern with tight contests, with Sam Forrester shooting a 70, defeating Wade Walker (72) at the 18th. An interesting side issue occurred because it was also New World stableford day, with a healthy "Birds Nest" waiting to be struck. Both Sam and Wade scored two 2s so they share the jackpot. In addition, both got their twos on the same holes - the 8th and the 13th. The second semifinal also went down to the wire before Troy Shaw defeated Joel Macklin at the 18th hole.
In the Senior Flight, Pete Jackson beat Robin Carseldine 1-up, while Kevin Mackay accounted for Nigel Udy 2-up. "Jacko" claims that while he has never defeated Kevin in a match, he has got him worked out, so he's pretty confident.
In the Intermediate semis, George Deans defeated Paul Fouhy 2/1, while Ash Peterson won 2-up against Mike Dixon.
The Juniors continued the pattern, when Ray Verhaart defeated Harry Quinn at the 18th, while Daryl Hart took a 2/1 win over Tony ("Fishing") Roseingrave.
Finally to the Masters, played on handicap, it's Steve Hemingway, up against Kel Briggs.
The finals of all the men's Championship Divisions will be held this Sunday, September 26. All matches are off the blue tees, and with the exception of the Junior B and the Masters, they are all over 36 holes. The course is not closed but other golfers should recognise the championship matches take absolute precedence.
The wild weather last Saturday brought about the postponement of the Murray Halberg Day, but a dozen warriors braved the elements in a strike competition. Young George Deans handled the conditions best to win the event, with John Hopkirk taking second place. To give some idea of the way it was, Tony Rowntree shot an 86 for 29 stableford points, but expressed considerable satisfaction with his effort in the circumstances.
Last week, 14 hardy 9-holers joined the ducks for the PGG Wrightson stableford, which was taken by Lorraine Jones from Gill Neal and Rosie Wellbrock, who dead-heated for second. Alex Tomlinson pounded out the Chapel St Vets' longest drive but the top feature of the day was the lovely lunch after the round. Roll on summer.
A baker's dozen Vets scorned the cold showers on Monday for their weekly stableford. Isabelle Weaver's 19 points was the women's top result, while Jack Richmond handled the conditions best (after all it was like a Scottish summer) with 24, ahead of Kevin Hooper on 22. Jack even managed nearest the pin at the Fagan Ford eighth hole.
Looking ahead now to the beginnings of interclub competition, Saturday and Sunday, October 2 and 3. On the Saturday a Masterton team, made up of players from this year's interclubs, will be playing at Miramar in a pre-season warm-up. Then on the Sunday, the scene shifts to Hutt for the annual Oka Heketa Shield contest. The team will be playing in that but organiser John Hopkirk is welcoming other Masterton members to join them for the match against Hutt. He is looking for another six or so players for the team, so contact John smartly if you'd like to be in.
The latest bad weather news is the early rounds in the women's championship have been postponed. They will now be played next Tuesday and Wednesday, presumably with the actual finals the following Sunday, that is October 3.
With the launch of the world-famous Masterton Cookery Book originally set for finals day, next Sunday, a decision had to be made whether to proceed. Undaunted, the Cookery Book committee have decided to go ahead this Sunday, as originally planned. I've seen an advance copy and I can tell you it looks great and includes recipes by several renowned cooks.
The other big event this weekend takes place tomorrow in the golf club. It is the wine-tasting and auction evening, with the wine tasting and quiz session managed by Martin Carrington, who did such a great job when this was last held. I gather there are still a few places left.