Following are the results from the 2019 New Zealand Women’s Senior Championships played on 18 – 21 February at Cromwell Golf Club.

On the eve of the 100th New Zealand Open, the 2019 New Zealand Women’s Senior Championships, concluded with an historic win for Robyn Boniface from Queens Park.

In the 71st year of the tournament, Boniface has now clocked up five wins in this prestigious women’s tournament, that has gone from strength to strength over recent years. 

One of the most successful and talented senior players in the current Women’s Senior Circuit, Boniface had yet another powerful performance ousting her Southland team mate, Robyn Pullar (Invercargill), 5 and 3 in the final.

Boniface had come up against Lesley Papworth (Arrowtown) in her first round match, winning 4 and 2, having qualified in 2nd place with a four-over par round on Monday.   Ginny Bolderston (Geraldine) was the next to struggle against the Boniface steadiness, a match that concluded on the 13th with a 6 and 5 win to the long-time Southland representative.

The semi-finals saw Boniface take on a Trans-Tasman dimension, where she was matching against Josie Ryan, a past Australian Women’s Senior Champion.  This match went to the 17th with a 2 and 1 Boniface win, and the securement of her place in the final. 

The win was special for all Kiwis in that the New Zealand Senior Challenge Cup was back in New Zealand hands, something that they had not held since 2015, when Jill Morgan, from Waikato last won.  Three years of Australian winners came to end with Boniface, including a birdie to take out the match and a fine finish to her weeks work.

Robyn Pullar had had  a great start to the tournament winning the Curtis Cup for the Stroke Play Championship, and the top qualifier place, with an opening round of 73, one over par. 

Pullar’s run to the final a ‘little-tight’ at times, such was the strength of the field. The first match, a 3 and 1 win over Nikki Frank (Australia) before a quarter final win on the 18th, over Annette Muir from North Harbour.  Muir was unlucky not to have won that match, one which she had held the lead over several occasions.  Indeed the only time Pullar was ahead was on the 18th, when she had a miraculous 3rd shot into the par-4, 18th for a gimme putt, par, to Muir’s bogey.  

Pullar also had a Trans-Tasman Semi-Final to Australia’s Jacqui Morgan, which she won 2 and 1.  Morgan had been in form all week with several sub-par performances but one which she could not pull off again against the inspired Pullar. 

The week-long tournament ended with the Southland team mates and friends head to head, with this time the glory all Boniface’s.

The tournament had a record number of entries with over 150 senior women, aged 50 and over entering, with 141 starters on Monday.  Managed by PaR nz Golfing Holidays under the auspices of New Zealand Golf, the tournament was supported by local wine makers, Mount Michael.

A twenty strong contingent of Australian players came across, joining players from around New Zealand.

After the opening Stroke Play Qualifying round, players were split into divisions for match play.  Host club member Shirley Field (Cromwell) won the Senior Veterans Cup for the best gross by a player aged 70 and over, while Judy Muir (Wanaka) and Mary Anne Kane (Tapanui) shared the Eileen Nutt for the best net.

Wanaka’s Jill King won the Waipukurua Jubilee Salver, division two and Dianne Cleland the Hawkes Bay Salver for the 3rd.  The 4th division, the Manawatu Wanganui Trophy, was won by Annabel Speirs (Tarras) and the 5th, the Canterbury Rosebowl, by Peg Purdie (Waitomo).  The 6th, Maunu Trophy won by Lyn Hill (Wanaka).  The 7th division, the Wanaka Trophy and the 8th competing for the Waihi Trophy were won by Nikki Clark (Matarua) and Linda Wright (Te Anau), respectively.  The inaugural PaR nz Golfing Holidays Cup was won by Robyn Kennard (Tuatapere) for the 9th division of qualifiers. 

Plate winners included Robyn Pellow (Ngaruawahia), Tracey Storer (Belleknowes), Marg Hughes (Te Anau), Gaylene Bunn (Ngaruawahia), Elaine Whiting (Cromwell), Lois Mitchell (Lumsden), Susan Racz (Drummond) and Lynette Chambers (Tuatapere).

The list of flights winners shows the wide support from clubs all over the country.  Ginny Bolderston (Geraldine), Maria Arhanic (Arrowtown), Yverely McCarthy (Wanaka), Trish Linton (Cromwell), Brenda Duncan (Gore), Fiona Gray (Tuatapere), Barbara Winstone (Greenacres) and Christine Alley from Paeora were all flight one winners in their respective divisions.

Flight two winners included Jo Neep (Arrowtown), Bright Holford (RAGGC), Judy Muir (Wanaka), Helene Green (Hamilton), Liz Bartlett (Ngaruawahia), Paula Parfitt (Hauraki) and Laurie Fogg (Riverside).

PaR nz Golfing Holidays announced the 2020 venue being Taupo Golf Club with a possible mix of their two 18 holes course – Centennial and Tauhara – from the 17 – 20 February.   This will be a great warm up for the low-marker players and the New Zealand Women’s Senior Team ahead of their challenge of the 2nd Trans-Tasman Women’s Seniors, scheduled for the week later.  Venue to be confirmed by New Zealand Golf.  

Robyn Boniface was the captain in the inaugural Trans-Tasman Seniors staged in Australia last year, where the Kiwi team lost by one shot.  2020 may well be the year for revenge but for the moment, the 2019 tournament belongs to Robyn Boniface, again! 

Denise Langdon

NZ Golf Tournament Director

PaR nz Golfing Holidays

Phone +64 275 662 385