Wellington golfers Haupai Puha (Royal Wellington) and Cruize
Wawatai (Titahi) hold a one-shot lead halfway through
qualifying in the 76th New Zealand Golf Maori national
championships at the Taupo Golf Club.
The pair carded rounds of one over par 73 in hard and fast
conditions to lead the senior men's championship by one shot
from Inia Logan (Cromwell) after round one of the two-round
qualifying event for the national match play title which
concludes on Friday.
Defending champion Puha is among the favourites to go
back-to-back, but will face tough competition as only six
strokes separate the top 16 players headed into the final
round of qualifying today.
The first two rounds are stroke play and tomorrow the top 16
of each division goes to match play - the whole event is
played off the stick.
Meanwhile, Wellington's Te Rongopai Clay, who was part of the
team which finished runner-up to Auckland at the women's
interprovincial, continued her good form in the senior
women's championship.
Clay (Titahi) carded an even par 73 at Centennial on day one
to earn a four-stroke lead over Kate Chadwick (Napier). Local
Erikah Waiariki (Taupo) carded a seven over par 80 to be in
third.
In other divisions, Paul Retemeyer led the junior men, Ray
Dearing the intermediate division, Noel Coombe the masters
men and Isobel Dick the golden girls.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.