The Aaron Vanderpoel led team notched up the first win of the season with some very close match’s that could have swayed either way “The boy’s played well for the first hit-out” Vanderpoel said.  Singles match’s saw Shayne Ashford, Aaron Vanderpoel, Aaron Kelly and Herewini Hohepa gaining wins with Hohepa holing a long putt on the last to beat Waikato representative Sam Vincent in a close contest of the number 1’s.

Next Round @ Ngaruawahia 28th February vs Te Aroha

Div 4 Stewart Alexander Pennant Team
– Played Walton @ Stewart Alexander Golf Club (Draw 4.5 – 4.5)

The second pennants team made their debut in the 4th division last weekend against a talented Walton team. They were 2-1 down after the morning foursomes and would have to improve significantly to recover in the afternoon singles.
10 handicapper Jacob Carey, in his debut as a regular team member, started well being 2 up in the early stages but faded against Joel Ryder playing off an 8 handicap to be 3 down with 3 holes to go.
He put it close on the 16th and converted the birdie to stay in the match. Jacob put his drive on the 17th in the fairway and faded  a 3 wood to be in the fairway 5 metres short of the green. Joel was in a similar position but left his chip 3 metres past the pin failing to convert his birdie and settling for par. On the other hand, Jacob chipped to 3 feet and converted his birdie for two in a row and to stay in the match. Jacob played his tee shot off the 18th into the wind and left it short on the verge of the green while Joel hit long just into the rough. Jacob chipped in for a 2 and three birdies in a row while Joel was unable to reciprocate settling for a par and a halved match.
Phil Lambert faced an experienced campaigner in Gavin Pitcon playing off a 7 handicap and after losing in the foursomes was looking for redemption in the singles. That did not likely being 2 down after 5, all square at the turn and 2 down after 14. However, with accurate iron play and local knowledge, he turned the tide to be all square on the 18th. Both players failed to manage the wind and ended in the right hand bunker off the tee. Gavin took two shots to get out while Phil was out in one and two-putted to take the match with a bogey.
Solid performances by old hands Mel Brown and Atu Te Ao resulted in 3 and 2 wins for both leaving the team with 4.5 points and two matches to complete, requiring a half to win the day.
Hyrum Sunnex was 1 down on the 18th tee needing a win to halve the match. His tee shot hit the front of the green while his opponent was long in the rough and chipped long leaving a difficult par putt. Hyrum’s putt was short and he needed to nail his par putt to have a chance. He didn’t make it and his opponent two-putted for a bogey to win the match.
Ray Dearing was all square on the 18th tee and hit the green off the tee while his opponent was long in the rough. Despite this advantage Ray was unable to convert and lost the hole and the match resulting in a draw for teh two clubs on teh day with 4.5 points each.
Next Round @ Hauraki 28th February vs Pirongia/Ngahinepouri

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