Waihi Golf Club have had an unusual golf tournament this week, writes club member Rodger Bagshaw in his latest update.

On Sunday, July 14, it was the day for the annual PLAY THE COURSE BACKWARD competition or more commonly known as the 'WHOA TO GO' tournament.

There was a full field to contest this year’s event where for instance you tee off near the 18th green and play to the pin on the 17th green, and from there you play to the 16th green and so on.

Played in an Ambrose format of teams of four it was a fun and eagerly contested day.

To get things rolling contestants were invited to encircle the 18th green, and on command roll or toss a ball towards a bottle of the sponsors product placed in the centre of the green. The closest ball – supposedly - claimed the bottle.

The winning team of the day was ‘The Donald Ducks’ -  Alburtus Potgieter, Willie Van Zyle, John Laubscher and Rhys Peden. Second was ‘Hooksmen’ - Ben Latham, Kerian, Mike, and Zane. Third were ‘Seventy Flies’ - Adele Gunning, Ken Purcell, Judy and John Saunders.

MONDAY VETS:

A large field contested a two person Ambrose competition this week.

An unusual very heavy fog made playing conditions very difficult for the first hour and a half until it started to lift.

Luckily it was Ambrose as more than one ball was in some unknown direction, and the other ball could therefore be played!

The winners with a nett of 65.75 were Avon Gordon and Doug Ferguson, with Judy Saunders and Nigel Sanderson in 2nd place.

Next were Denise Ruha and Sam Gurney, followed by Sarah Tomsett and Tom Wallace.

A fun day enjoyed by all participants.

NINE HOLE SECTION:

The mixed haggle of the week was stableford, and being victorious was Vicky Knight with 23 points, then Julia Nicolson in second with 21.

John Twemlow had 20, then Eleanor Koedyk, Nicola Pooley, and John Vautier all on 19, with Lorraine Meyer finishing with 18 points.

WEDNESDAY LADIES:

Playing in conjunction with the Freda Bowden Cup, the weeks haggle was nett.

First was Adrienne Lynch with a nett 70, with Kristine Gascoigne next with 73.

They were followed by Anke Hermannsdorfer and Heather White who both had nett 75’s. Jenny Tubman scored the only two, and Sarah Tomsett won the Hidden Holes with 9 points.

THURSDAY MEN:

The morning competition was a benefit day for Doug Ferguson who not only topped the haggle with 40 points, but also scored the only two!

Second in the haggle was Stephen Bailey with 38, then Errol Millar on 37. John Giffney and Allen Sarjant both had 36 points.

In the Afternoon Haggle the local farmer Dwayne O’Faherty was clear of the field with 39 points. Next all on 36 points were Eddie Evans, Murray Butterworth, Damien Dunlop, Malcolm Coldicutt, and Craig Sandlant. Mark Tomsett and Dave Morris both had 35 points.

SATURDAY LADIES:

The ladies also played for the Freda Bowden Cup in conjunction with the Wednesday ladies, and the winner of the cup from the combined fields was Michelle Libby with nett 70, and next were Adrienne Lynch and Kaylene Crocker with nett 70’s.

Top of the day’s nett haggle was Michelle Libby with her nett 69, with Kaylene Croker next on 70. Martine Milicich, Jackie Robson, Denise Donald, and Karen May were all 73.

Hidden Holes was won by Michelle Libby with 10 points.

SATURDAY MEN:

In the Morning Haggle it was Al McMillan that headed the field with 39 points, closely followed by John Drent with 38.

Next were Allen Sarjant and Tom Wallace with 37, then well back was Jim Powell on 34. All on 33 points were Ken Purcell, Harry Shepherd, Tom Rowbotham, Nigel Sanderson, and Rhys Peden.

The Hidden Holes was won by Peter Cochrane with 9 points.

In the Afternoon Haggle the scoring was fairly subdued, but Greg Bundle and John Taylor were the best with each having 37 points.

Next on 35 points were Dave Morris, Ron Arthur, and Mark Bryant, then on 34 points, Jason Baldwin, Damien Dunlop, Alan Kurtovich, Chris Pilmer, and Ian Diver.

Rodger Bagshaw