There were some of the most important golf games of the season held during the past month at the Rarotonga Golf Club.

First there were the final rounds of the stroke championships, then there was the Edgewater Resort and Spa Tournament, and the month ended with the Westpac Bank Classic.

The final round of the stroke championships saw some good battles on the course with some players squandering good leads and others forging ahead.

In the senior mens division, Kirk Tuaiti never really looked in danger of losing out with rounds of 71, 76, 74, 67 for a total of 288 but he was chased well by Sonny Karati, who finished with 293.

The senior ladies division saw three ladies Maara Kenning, Tuaine Marsters and Kurai Foster jockeying for position throughout the rounds of the competition but it was Maara Kenning (319) who was victorious over Tuaine Marsters (327).

Other results for the championships were: intermediate men first Pokoina Matara, second Tuakana Marukore; intermediate ladies first Tania Karati, second Ake

Tereia; junior A men first Junior Ngatokoroa, second Jimmy Teokotai; junior B men first Vengi Hagai, second Winston Kiria Junior Ladies first Terangi Teokotai, second Moeroa Turua, and vets first Pape Aviu, second Riiti Mamanu.

The Edgewater Resort and Spa Tournament again proved a popular event for Raro golfers with 90 players taking part.

Many thanks go to Chris McGeown and the Edgewater Resort for the great prizes on offer for this bogey competition.

It was a very close-fought day with only two points separating the top 10 players.

In the end it was Bernie Raffe, with one of her very best games, who emerged the winner with a plus-7. Bernie was closely followed by Alex MacDonald Moetu Tangitamaiti, Tania Karati, and Memory Akama who played her best game ever.

All of these players came in with a plus-6.

Rounding out the top 10 were Des Eggleton, Pokoina Matara, Roa, Jackson Enua, and Tuwunga Mataora who all scored a plus-5.

Best round of the day came from Ned Howard who carded a creditable 69 off the stick.

The last competition was the Westpac Bank Classic, which, through the generous sponsorship of the Rarotonga Westpac Bank, has been running for many years.

This year ordinary golfers had a much better chance because top golfers were just about arriving in New Caledonia for the South Pacific Games.

The clubs newest member, John Breden, played in the morning and tore the course apart in this net competition.

John carded an 83 off the stick for a nett 60 to be the outright winner and receive a new account at Westpac.

If just one more putt had gone in for Jules Maher, another morning player, he would have joined John on net 60. Jules carded a gross of 84 for a net of 61 and also received a Westpac account among his prizes.

The other players to win prizes were: T J Marsters (63), Rory Quirke (63), Steve Simpson (64), Eddie Tuaati (65), John Kenning (65), Henry Story (65) Jimmy Teokotai (66) and Tukai Engu (66).

Many thanks go to Westpac Bank for their continued support of golf in Rarotonga.

September starts off with the Puaikura Reef Lodge Tournament, a new event for the Rarotonga Golf Club. We are all looking forward to taking part.