The 2019 COVIC golfers season was bought to a close in bright sunshine at the Huntly Golf Club on Tuesday 26th November. 

“It has been an amazing year weather-wise with most events bathed in sunshine and no cancellations necessary,” stated retiring Convenor Russ Ford.

While the COVIC Champs is an individual stroke-play event, the aggregate score of the best six players in each club count toward the winners of the Ford Ale Jug and Plate Trophy. This year home club Huntly-Waiterimu proved too strong with a team score of 399 points, five ahead of the next best team Onewhero (404), then Maramarua (406), Waiuku (407), Hauraki (416),Wattle-Downs (419), Pukekohe (428), Awhitu (435) and Clarks Beach.

In the Individual Champs, the top three were honoured in true Olympic fashion with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals along with some valuable vouchers from the COVIC Sponsor ‘Franklin Golf Shop’. Seniors Champion was Waiuku’s Ross Fah with a nett 63, three shots clear of a gaggle of would-be winners who had to be split on count back. Junior Champion was Hauraki’s Bill Holt also with a nett 63 but just one shot clear of the second and third place getters. Of the six ladies in the field the best lady player of the day was awarded to Maramarua’s Avril Thomson on gross. Nearest the Pin prize vouchers were picked up by Murray Liddle and Phil Sue and twos were scored by Mike Croucher, Russ Ford, Murray Liddle, Stephen Crooymans and Tim Howard.

The 2019 Trophy winners were: SHIELD – Clarks Beach; PLATE – COVIC Extras; GOLD CUP – Pukekohe (Holders); VVV – Clarks Beach; JJJ – Clarks Beach; AJ&P – Huntly-Waiterimu. 

The first event for next season is the VVV Pairs Cup to be played at 10am Onewhero GC on Monday 10th February 2020. COVIC enquiries can be made to Tim Howard on 021 155 4113.

Leaderboard Results for the 2020 COVIC Champs were:

Division 1 (0-20.9)
GOLD 63 - Ross Fah (16.1 Hcp, Waiuku)
SILVER 66 - Terry Grant (18.4 Onewhero)
BRONZE 66 - Paul Heath (13.3 Waiterimu)
4th 66 - Russ Ford (20.3 Huntly)
5th 66 - Murray Liddle(8.1 Huntly)
6th 67 - Colin Thompson (19.4 Waiuku)

Division 2 (21-45)
GOLD 63 - Bill Holt (24.1 Hauraki)
SILVER 64 - Ron Gibson (26.3 Onewhero)
BRONZE 64 - Mike Thompson (27.6 Onewhero)
4th 65 - Alan Matthews (23.8 Maramarua)
5th 65 - Ian Jory (23.8 Awhitu)
6th 65 - Bob Sharpe (25.9 Wattle Downs)

Left: Russ Ford presents Huntly-Waiterimu’s Terry Broughton with the Ford Ale Jug and Plate
Centre: Junior Champions (l-r) Mike Thompson (3rd), Bill Holt (1st), Ron Gibson (2nd)
Right: Senior Champions (l-r) Paul Heath (3rd); Ross Fat (1st), Terry Grant (2nd)