Taranaki Stroke Play held at the New Plymouth Golf Club

Taranaki representatives Sam Jones and Joanne McDonald have taken out their local District Stroke Play Championships, the Taranaki Stroke Play held at the New Plymouth Golf Club recently.

Jones dominated the men’s field winning by 12 following rounds of 69, 66, and 71 to finish the tournament at 10-under. His fellow Taranaki interprovincial representatives Andrew Searle and Benjamin Joseph finished in a share of second.

Jones began the final round with a seven-shot lead over Joseph and needed one last clinical round to seal the deal. He remained steady in the final round, making five birdies and four bogeys to put the trophy out of reach from a fading Joseph.

The Taranaki number one made 16 birdies throughout the week with six bogeys and a double.

In the women’s event, Joanne McDonald took the trophy by five over Sera Raj.

McDonald carded rounds of 70, 76, and 77 to finish at 17-over-par. She began the day a shot behind Raj and played solid golf throughout the final day to take control during the front nine.

With Raj bleeding shots, McDonald needed to keep her composure and the trophy was hers. She managed to do just that, coming home in three-over to sign for a five-over round and win by five.