Locals Secure The 2020 NZ Women’s Senior Foursomes

The 48th New Zealand Golf Women’s Seniors Foursomes has been completed this week at Arikikapakapa, the home of Rotorua Golf with locals Ruth Clapperton and Maureen Carter claiming the NZLGU Salvers.

Clapperton and Carter along with 126 other senior ladies aged 50 plus, battled it out on the challenging Arikikapakaopa layout that was made even more challenging with squalls and heavy rain midweek. But the week belonged to the Rotorua pair who were seeded first in the 16 pair draw after qualifying first on Monday 23 November.

In securing their win, their final match won 5 and 4 against Taranaki representative Joanne McDonald who was paired with Pene Trousselot. Their first match dashed hopes of Waitomo’s Peg Purdie and Wendy Thomspon, tournament regulars who went down 3 and 2. Clapperton and Carter then won on the 17th, 2 and 1 against Janice Grant and Jenny Smith (Pupuke) before their final against McDonald and Trousselot. The plate in the championship was won by Janne Moyle and Norrey Simmons from Paraparaumu Beach.,

Other local winners included Marion Irvine and Christine Kampfraath winning the Rosetown Trophys, (4th Division) Wai Morrison and Karen Murphy who won the Plate in the ADLGA Trophy division, with runners up in the Rosetown Trophy awarded to Louise Armstrong and Karen Chard.

The tournament, that was first played at Manukau in 1973 has never been played at Rotorua. Despite a long spell since the thermal based course has hosted a New Zealand national event, the club including the board, management and all staff including the professional and greens teams, turned it on welcoming the players from 42 different club nationwide from the welcome to closing prize giving dinner. The tournament was played in the same format as first introduced by the then Ladies Golf Union. The 64 pairs qualify by net in the first instance and are then seeded into four x 16 pair draws.

Mrs SS Wilson is the trophy for the players seeded in the second division and was won by Christine Pears (Akarana) paired with another district representative Lynda Tate (Wainui). Tate and Pears won their final match 4 and 3 against Jennifer Parkinson (Sherwood Park) and Diana Wright (Waipu). The plate winners were Pupuke’s Susan Binks and Karen Purdy.

Karen Dye and Jo Stallard from North Shore won the 3rd Divisions ADLGA Trophy with a win of 4 and 3 against Christine Mackenzie (Matamata) and Sherrill Jeeves (Sherwood Park). Plate winners were Liz Banton and Debbie Erceg, another Pupuke pairing.

The format was designed with a scheduled four rounds for all players, with flights thus giving half the field with a 5th match. Plate winners included Lis Stringer & Jo Free (Napier), Felicity Clark & Shirley Otton (Waitangi / Whakatane), Vickey Mackintosh & Yvonne Mehertens (Omanu / Mercury Bay), Judith Simpson & Di Taylor (Pupuke / Mangawhai), Judy McKenzie and Maree West (Nelson), Mary & Kate Wilson (Paraparaumu Beach), Jan Aickin & Alwin Thoms (Pupuke) and Lorraine & Molly Langan (Weedons).

The tournament organisers, PaR nz Golfing Holidays, under the auspices of New Zealand Golf have announced the 2021 tournament will be hosted at the Geraldine Golf Club, dates the 22-25 November. Details and entry forms will be open in the New Year.

Denise Langdon

Tournament Director

Phone 0275 662 385