Mama Olly shows the way

The Puaikura Reef Lodge and Manuia Beach Resort Golf Tournament, played at the Rarotonga Golf Club two weeks ago, showcased some really good golf from the large field of members.

The course was dry and featured plenty of run on the ball which some players struggled with for their approach shots. This was a bogey competition and the cut-off was +6.

All those players who scored +4s and thought they were in with a good chance of a prize will have to try again this week.

Some players also took the opportunity to play their Lionel/Virginia matches and there was some excellent golf played in this competition. Worthy of mention was the match between Pokoina Matara and Tuakana Marukore. Both had great rounds with Pokoina carding a 73 off the stick only to be defeated by a 72 from Tuakana.

The main focus, however, was the main competition of the day. With plenty of run on the ball, Olly Silk, nearly always straight down the middle, had a magnificent game and carded an 80 off the stick for a score of +10 to secure 1st place.

This was not only Olly’s best round, probably ever, but she put herself into the history books of the Club by being only the fifth person, as well the first ever lady, to shoot her age. This is a feat only usually achieved by low-handicapped players. For a higher-handicap player to accomplish this is quite remarkable. Some of us will have to still be playing at 150 years of age to stand a chance!

Close behind Olly came Tuakana Marukore on a count-back from Katoa Banaba. Both players scored +9. Next came Moeroa Matheson with +8, followed by Darrell Brown, Robert Skews, Rita Howard, Pokoina Matara, and Mena Howard who each had +7. Kurai Foster rounded off the top ten with a +6. Best men’s round of the day came from Sonny Karati with a 71 off the stick, while Kurai Foster was the best of the Ladies with a 74.

Players should be well into their Lionel/Virginia matches now and are urged to complete these as soon as possible.

As usual, best wishes to all golfers.