Golf: Manukau's Denton snatches victory

By BOB PEARCE

Nineteen-year-old Jay Denton parred a deciding hole in near darkness yesterday to give Manukau their first Auckland premier golf pennants title for 16 years.

Denton, who was the best Auckland performer at the national championships at Mt Maunganui last month, played No 3 for Manukau against defending champions The Grange on The Grange course in Papatoetoe.

He came to the 18th, in what proved to be the deciding match, one up against Mark Williams but found a bunker and lost the hole to a par.

On the first extra hole, he played an immaculate second shot to 13 feet and won the hole when Williams struggled to make bogey from the fringe.

The Grange had led 3-2 after the morning foursomes, but Manukau won four singles at the bottom of the order and Franz Schwanner downed former New Zealand representative Glen Goldfinch in the No 1 game.

The President's final went to Pukekohe 8-7 over Howick and Akarana, and Manukau won the two reserve grades.

Meanwhile, at Muriwai, 13-year-old Bobea Park romped away with the North Harbour women's matchplay title. In the final the Rangitoto College student beat former teacher Sandy Doherty 7 and 5, handling the fresh wind easily.

Park, who plays at the Pupuke Club, wasted no effort winning the title. On her way to the final she won 6 and 4, 7 and 6 and 4 and 2, to finish her four matches with 17 holes unplayed.