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Akrana Golf Club win Cuesport New Zealand Men’s Club Team Championship

Posted by under Latest Golf News, Mens Amateur Golf

Akarana, runner-up last year, has gone one better, winning the Cuesport New Zealand men’s club team championship by seven shots from Cambridge at the Ashburton Golf Club.

The Auckland representative held an eight-shot lead over Hastings after the morning round and was never in danger of losing in the afternoon, although players started feeling fatigued towards the end of the 36-hole competition and bogeys were more common than birdies.

Akarana finished eight-under par on 424 in an event where the best three scores from each of the 17 four-man teams count in each round.

Cambridge, third after the first round, finished on one-under par and a stroke back on even par was Tauranga, which improved two positions in the second round. Tauranga’s cause was helped by international Kevin Smith, whose six-under 66 in the afternoon included nine birdies.

Three of last year’s Akarana team – Van Wright, Seve Ha, and Hayden McCalluum – were back to share the spoils this time with Darren Gallott replacing Reg Roache.

Wright was the hero of the side, finishing as leading individual on eight-under 136, backing a 66 in the morning with a two-under 70 in the second round and staying steady when his teammates starting dropping shots.

The amiable Samoan played professionally until 2002, competing on the Australasian circuit, but struggled to survive in the cut-throat competition and returned to live with his parents in his native land.

When the came to Auckland he was with them. He was reinstated last year and has made a big impact in the amateur game, representing Auckland last year.

He had seven birdies and one bogey in the morning and four birdies and two bogeys in the afternoon. He admitted feeling tired towards the end, but concentrated on getting his pars with an birdie a bonus.

Scores

424_203, 221: Akarana (Van Wright 66 70, Seve Ha 67 76, Hayden McCallum 70 75, Darren Gallott 74*, 81*).

431_215, 216: Cambridge (Gavin Cortesi 72 73, Matthew Bluett 72 73, Tane Robson 75* 29*, Aaron Leech 71 70).

432_217, 215: Tauranga (Jared Pender 72 70, Ed Burgess 73 79, George Kinghorn 72 86*, Kevin Smith 76*, 66).

433_Hastings 211, 222: (Stuart Duff 71 76, Nick Gillespie 70 76, Brook Morpeth 76* 85*, Mike Wilson 70 70) .

437_216 221: Paraparaumu Beach (Shaun Richards 73 70, Sean Kells 73 77*, Frank Borren 70 74, Tim Borren 73 77.

442_223, 219: Sherwood Park.

447_222, 225: Gulf Harbour.

449_223, 226: St Clair.

450_227, 223: Christchurch.

451_219, 232: Wanganui

453_225, 228: Rarangi.

455_225 230: Inglewood.

456_227, 229: Invercargill.

458_232, 226: Timaru.

463_236, 227: Motueka.

474_240, 234: Greymouth.

506_255, 251: Gisborne Park.

Leading individuals:

136: Van Wright (Akarana) 66 70

137: Riki Kauika (Wanganui) 69 68.

140: Mike Wilson (Hastings) 70 70.

141: Aaron Leech (Cambridge) 71 70.

142: Kevin Smith (Tauranga) 76 66. Jared Pender (Tauranga) 72 70.

143: Shaun Richards (Paraparaumu) 73 70, Seve Ha (Akarana) 67 76.

144: Frank Borren (Paraparaumu) 70 74, Dale Clarke {Sherwood Park) 76 68.