Change of codes suits winning pair

 

Two past New Zealand sports representatives have claimed the 2016 New Zealand Mid Amateur titles held at the Mangawhai Golf Club January 15-17.

Past New Zealand tennis representative Brett Steven (Titirangi), competing in his first Mid Amateur won the Neil Woodbury Cup after a ‘match-play’ finish in the 54 hole stroke event.

Trailing by two shots overnight, behind past North Harbour representative Ben Jujnovich (Redwood Park), Steven played the tough 5,924m course in stunning form with a one over 73 in his final round.

Steven was even with the card in his opening first nine holes, but had a double bogey on the 11th, and a bogey on the 13th. Birdies on the par 4 10th, and the par 3 17th however completed his round, thus claiming the title with a winning margin of 2 shots.

Finishing in 2nd place was Ben Jujnovich (Redwood Park) on 225 (74, 74, 77) with Titirangi's John Batley in 3rd place with rounds of 77, 72 and 70 to finish with a total of 228.

Steven (46), better known to Kiwis for his distinguished tennis career, was competing in his first national event, his previous best result ever in golf being runner-up at the Titirangi Club Championships.

Steven was on the world tennis circuit for 11 years having turned professional in 1988. Top singles results included quarterfinals at the 1993 Australian Open losing only to the great Pete Sampras, and quarterfinals also at the 1993 Canadian Masters and 1998 Rome Masters.

A New Zealand representative at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Georgia, Steven now works as a Wealth Adviser assisting clients with individual portfolios and family trusts. Golf has been a hobby, until now. Best ranking as a tennis player was 32 in the singles; he starts 2016 as the New Zealand Mid Amateur Champion.

Claiming her mark on a growing number of senior trophies was women’s winner, Jill Morgan (Te Awamutu) who won in blistering form by 8 shots.

Morgan, who led in all three rounds, was also a previous New Zealand hockey representative in 1978 and from 1981-1984. But unlike Steven she has played plenty of rep golf.

A stalwart of the current women’s Waikato masters team, Morgan was awarded the best-placed Women’s Masters individual in 2006 and is the reigning New Zealand Women’s Senior Champion.

Morgan opened with a one over par round of 73, followed up with a 75, and even though the third round of the tournament was her worst at 77, the strongly placed field could not catch her, a finishing total 225 nine over on the par 72 course.

In her wake were many district representatives including runner up Debbie McCullum (Te Ngutu) who finished on 233, and a previous three-times Mid Amateur winner Kathy Olsen (Maraenui) on 237.

The current New Zealand Mid Amateur series, managed under the auspices of New Zealand by PaR nz Golfing Holidays combines the previous NZLGA Men’s Mid Amateur and the WGNZ Women’s Individual Masters.

The 54-hole tournament recognises best net and stableford results also. Men’s best net was awarded to Greg Quinn from Mangawhai with the runner-up, and last year’s tournament runner-up Thai Leng (Remuera).

Raymond Everitt (Warkworth) took the best stableford prize with Steven Leahey from Druids Heath in the UK the 2nd placed stableford winner.

Local Mangawhai members took line honours in the women’s net prize pool with Nadine Fitness best placed, followed by Sue Cox. Julie Gee (Riverside) won the best women’s stableford, with Sian Stevenson (Cambridge) 2nd.

PaR nz Golfing Holidays will shortly announce the dates and venue for 2017, pipped to be Omanu Golf Club in the Bay of Plenty.


SILVERWARE: Jill Morgan (Te Awamutu) and Brett Steven (Titirangi) are NZ Mid Amateur golf champions.