Waihi Open Xmas Tournament

On Sunday, November 28 players came from Pirongia, Waiterimu, Mt Maunganui, Omokoroa, Ngaruawahia, Whangamata, Walton, Paeroa, Waitakere, Reporoa, Huntly and Waihi, and enjoyed the beautifully presented course in perfect weather. The large field was divided into two mixed divisions in the stableford competition.

There were some outstanding scores, particularly Murray Fraser's 70 gross (3 handicap), and Jill Morrison's 65 nett (29 handicap).

Results Division 1 Handicaps +5 to 17: Murray Fraser 41 points; Carol Leary 40; David Seager (Pirongia), Terry Mischefski 39; Thomas Curle (Waiterimu) 38; Jason Baldwin, Russell Dewey, Brian Robinson, Toni Murray 37; Fredrick Frauendorf 36; Louise Stephens (Mt Maunganui), Michael Simmons (Omokoroa) David P. Campbell, Harison Madsen 34; Dylan West, Sally Sherson 33; David Croker, Mark Hume, Mike Morrison 32; Mark Thorburn (Ngaruawahia), Richard Taitoko, Ted Murray, Allan Bluett (Fairview), Joshua Yung Yang (Mt Maunganui, Jethro Meares, John Libby 31; John Giffney, John Trim (Paeroa) 30.

Division 2 Handicaps 18 to 54:Jill Morrison 44 points; Karen Lee 41; Keith Sherson, Jeanette Culton 38; Suzanne Burns, Francis Gascoigne, Jim Evans 37; Glenn Te Wake, Jan Robinson, Dianne Douglas 36; Michael Bonnici, Kristine Gascoigne, Jacquie Bain 35; Mark Mora, Phillipa Harvey, John Burns 34; Vince Jones (Walton), Desley Rosevear, Kaylene Croker, Wayne Jensen (Reporoa), Mike Rose 32; Michael Hurley, Mavis Bruce, Rex Knight, Des Johns, Rodger Bagshaw, John Purkis, 31; Rosalind Giffney, Peter Bramble, Gyan Prole, David Campbell, Denis Borman 30.

Twos: David Seagar (Pirongia) x2 on 13 and 15; Brian Robinson, Allan Bluett (Fairview) on 6; Mark Hume on 8; Zac Te Wake, Thomas Curle (Waiterimu) on 15.

Veterans' golf

On Monday, November 29, golfers stood in a minute's silence in memory of Ray Berghan who died suddenly last week.

He played golf regularly every week, and was well- respected by all who had the pleasure of playing with him and will be very much missed. The Veterans extend their sympathy to his wife and family.

It was fine and very warm on Monday, November 29, and the course immaculate for the Individual stableford competition, apart from a rabbit hole in the greenside bunker on 18, where one unfortunate player put her third shot into the bunker, where it disappeared down the hole.

After retrieving the ball, it took another three shots to get the ball out of the bunker and back on to grass, finishing with an ignominious 10. That's golf!

Stableford results: Francis Gascoigne, Kerry Lewis 42 points; Avon Gordon 37; Dot Ramsey 37; Peter Hewitt, Gyan Prole 36; Diane Lewis, Nan Hoggard, Roger Stiles 35; Mark Mora, Ross Fitness, Richard Still, Diane Lockwood 34; John Saunders, Jenny O'Dwyer, Robert Arrol, Peter Robertson 33; Judy Saunders, Al McMillan, Daryll Denyer John Giffney 32; Adrienne Lynch, Bob Hoggard 31; Denis Tanner, Gary Dunlop, Peter Wright 30. Twos: Gyan Prole on 6.

Coromandel Shield

Waihi's team (Maurice Joyce, Jock Stronach, Alex Teesdale, Allen Sarjant, Ken Purcell, John Purkis) excelled themselves and earned top score at Paeroa on Monday, November 29, but had to share it with Te Aroha who also played their hearts out.

However, it had the desired effect of lifting Waihi's status, and putting a gleam in the team's eyes for the last round at Hauraki.

Maybe some of the oppositions' teams will be anti-vaxxers and won't be allowed on the course, thereby having to settle for C-graders.

But it was a team glowing with pride, returning with three hams, one for each division, and some resignation to the fact that the trophy will be coming off Waihi's wall at the end of the competition.

Well done team: it is a very tough competition, but a final challenge to come up a notch or two at Hauraki on December 8.

Women's golf - 18 holes

It was a lovely day for golf on Saturday November 27, and the ladies' field played Summer Cup round 4 nett.

Results: Karen Roche 71; Shelley Lithgow 73; Jill Morrison 75; Susan Mustard , Niria Gerbich 76; Liz Hale 77; Susie Goodall 78.

There was a smaller than usual field on Wednesday December 1 for the Xmas Party, with an extraordinary competition called Bingo, Bango, Bongo, that had many puzzled by how to interpret the rules. There were many debatable decisions, and who cared? Flexibility was the order of the day. A point was earned for the first ball on the green, or closest to the pin, and first putt in the hole. Kathy Ashton had an outstanding score, nine points ahead of Kay Marshall, and Edna Connolly in third place two more points behind. It was a good light-hearted day.

-Nan Hoggard