Kaikoura, Gardner & Templeton Cups Finals Day

The Kaikoura Cup / Gardner Cup Final Round and Templeton Cup Final were played recently.

Players made their way to Waimakariri Gorge and were meant with a cool, crisp day and a few drops of rain prior to tee off threatened, but nothing came of it. The course was beautifully presented with the greens running very true at a good speed.

In the Kaikoura Cup a change of format from previous years saw the number of clubs and players rise from 4 clubs and 24 players to 7 clubs, 9 teams and 36 players playing each week. After leading from week 1 and getting out to a 23 shot lead after 3 rounds Rangiora Green entered the last round with a 5 shot lead over Amberley. Amberley came home strong to end up winning the Kaikoura Cup by 9 shots from Rangiora Green who finished second with Amuri third. 
Amberley also had the lead in Gardner Cup leading into Sunday by 11 shots over Kaiapoi and increased the difference to 17 shots to take the Kaikoura / Gardner Cup double. Kaiapoi finished second and Pegasus White third.

The Amberley team of, from left Dave Inkson, Nigel Granger, Neil Crawford, Grant Dunlop (Absent: Jed Robertson and Ron McPhail)

The Individual Trophy Winners were:
Best Gross Senior - Will Bastings (Amuri)
Best Gross Master - Kevin Jones (Rangiora Green)
Best Gross Junior - Ed Dickinson (Rangiora Red)
Best Net Senior - Pete McAllister (Kaiapoi)
Best Net Masters - Pete McAllister
Best Net Junior - Ed Dickinson

The Templeton Cup Final was an all Pegasus affair which went down to the wire with three matches decided on the final green. Pegasus Black registered the first point on the board thanks to a 7&6 win to Grant Townley over Royce Ellis. This was soon balanced with another 7&6 win to Mike Clapham over Jason Gwatkin in the battle of the #1 and team captains. The battle at #2 between 17yr old Tyler Gwatkin who started the year at #5 playing off a 18.7 now in to 8.5 and John Woods went down the last with Tyler winning 2 up. Cam Waghorn and Jamie Buchan also had a close match with Cam winning 2&1 to make it 2 all. At #5 Andy Jones had a 3&2 win over Blake Buchan to put Gold up 3 – 2, the battle of the #6’s had 14yr old Josh Gwatkin who started the year on a 28 handicap now into 15.8 playing against Tom Hobson, Tyler was 4 down with 7 to play but managed to take it down the last for Tom to make a good putt and take the win.

The Pegasus Gold team of, from left Cam Waghorn, John Woods, Royce Ellis, Mike Clapham, Kevin Shiel, Andy Jones, Tom Hobson edged out a gallant Pegasus Black side of Jason Gwatkin, Tyler Gwatkin, Jamie Buchan, Grant Townley, Blake Buchan and Joshua Gwatkin 4-2.