Knockout match play tees off

The Lionel/Virginia competition at the Rarotonga Golf Club started last Saturday.

This competition, which used to be called the Baker/Lucy but was renamed in honour of past-president Lionel Browne, has for years been one of the favourite competitions among golf players on Raro.

It is a match play knockout competition in which handicaps come into play. So basically, anyone can win.

It is not unknown but unusual for a low handicapper to win.

Sometimes a low handicapper will have to give his or her opponent a stroke per hole.

There are three divisions involved including men, ladies, and vets.

All players have one month in which to complete each round so the competition is spread over several months.

Some players played their first match last Saturday and the players to advance to the next round include Junior Ngatokorua, Vengi Hagai, Philip Urlich, Daniel Webb, Tere Okirua, Eddie Tuaati, Tuwunga Mataora, John Teiti, Mike Attridge, Pokoina Matara, Tere Taio, Ken Matheson, Ngatupuna Manuela, and Henry Story.

Strangely enough, only 3 of those on the list were among the prize winners for the days sweep.

The competition was on stableford and 3 strokes covered the top ten places.

Pokoina Matara, Tere Taio, Steve Simpson, and Mena Howard all finished with 42 points followed by James Herman on 40, with Tania Karati, Tuaine Marsters, Moeroa Matheson, Henry R Henry, and Maara Kenning rounding out the winners with 39 points.

There were some close games played and I was a witness, playing in the same group, when Mike Attridge struggled to contain Anthony Turua.

They were all square after 17 holes and Mike had to give Anthony a stroke on the last. Mike finished with a bogey for the hole, but it was enough to win the match because Anthony lost his concentration after his drive and couldnt recover in time.

Best round of the day from the men was by James Herman with a 70 off the stick and Mena Howard improved her game with a gross of 78 to be the best of the ladies.

This Saturday is the inaugural Handicappers competition which is a stableford competition.

However, there will be an extra prize for the player with the least putts for 18 holes so be sure to count your putts.

The putting part of the competition works as follows: once your ball is on the green every stroke counts until your ball is in the hole. That means that if a putt goes off the green again, or even into a bunker, you must count all the following strokes as putts even if you use a wedge or other club. So watch out for the 2nd and 11th green that can really mess up your score if you are not careful.

Many players will have to play their first Lionel/Virginia matches during the next two weeks. Make sure that you and your opponent get together and agree on a suitable day and time. Good luck to all golfers.