Connor Winter has defended his Total Golf Maitai Masters title, winning the annual 27-hole tournament at the sunny Waahi Taakaro Golf Course played recently by three shots..

Playing off a +2 handicap – the lowest in the 70-strong field – the Nelson club member posted a tidy one under par 71 for the first 18 holes before sealing the deal with a hard-working 40 on the final nine.

His total of 111 in ideal golfing conditions on a course in excellent shape shaded his fellow Nelson colleague and rep player Ben Crawford who finished second on 114 (74 + 40) with Waahi Taakaro’s top player James Campion back in third on 119 (79 + 40).

Winter’s win mirrored his first one last year when he won by two shots. Again he started strongly to lead his rivals, shrugged off a late triple bogey before grinding out the victory over the last nine as the wind got up and fatigue set in.

The other big winner on the day was Waahi Taakaro’s Gareth Edwards who not only won the cup for the best gross in the junior grade but he also took out the major prize as the overall net winner in his first season of competitive golf.

Playing off an 18 handicap, he shot 89 and 44 for a total of 133 (89 + 44) and a net 106 (71 + 35) to top the field.

Others notable efforts came from Golden Downs’ Jeremy Hancock who won the senior net with a score of 109 (70 + 39) , while Phil Hawke (Picton) and tournament director Peter Watson (Waahi Taakaro ) shared the intermediate grade honours with Hawke winning the cup for the best gross with a total of 125 (85 + 40) Watson taking the net with 108 (71 + 37).

Picton’s Iain Berrie took the gross prize in the junior division after totalling 139 (88 + 51), while Morgan Thorn (Totaradale) came in with the best net of 108 (72 + 36).

Again the condition of the course – which has made an amazing recovery after suffering devastating damage in the floods of 2022 and 2023 – was widely praised by the players.