The Michigan Motors Shootout recently contested at the Rarotonga Golf Club provided all the spectator excitement it had promised with shootouts being involved for six out of the nine holes.

The dramas started on the first hole played.

This was on the par three seventh hole with the pin at a fairly friendly position.

Only about four of the 20 players found the green with their tee shot, with the rest scattered around the green.

Last year’s winner, Alice Pilkinton, was short of the green and missed her chip shot to leave her well back from the hole and then, to the crowd’s amazement, three-putted.

This made Alice the first to be dropped off along with Mena Howard.

Meanwhile Daniel Webb sunk a long putt to throw down the gauntlet with a birdie two.

Tom Vea, Pokoina Matara, and Tania Karati were dropped after the shootout.

One of the survivors was Tom J Marsters who managed to survive several shootouts during the day.

On the next hole, played from the 10th tee to the first green four players were dropped off, including Ned Howard (who missed a short putt) and three-time winner Nga Manuela.

The next hole saw highly fancied player Daniel Webb dropped off after his shootout chip was off line and short while Tom J Masters survived another shootout.

Tom J also survived a shootout on the next hole with a great chip from above the fifth.

On the second to last hole it was down to Sonny Karati, Teinaki Howard and Tom J Marsters. Sonny and Tom J were on the green from the tee on this long par three hole and Teinaki, who had been a model of consistency through the game, was about 10 metres or so to the left of the green and his chip shot rolled well past the pin.

Both Sonny and Tom J parred the hole but Teinaki just missed his putt and was out of the game.

The final hole saw Sonny Karati in the right hand bunker for two and Tom J Marsters toward the back of the green for three.

Sonny chipped out of the bunker to be pin-high to the left by about three metres.

Tom J left his putt short and Sonny stepped up with a perfect putt which never looked like missing the hole and was down for four to add the 2012 Michigan Motors Shootout to his previous victory of 2008.

The Michigan Motors Shootout is one of the reasons all the senior golfers try so hard to get their handicap down by this time of the year.

Everyone wants to be in it.

It was another great competition this year and all players are to be congratulated.

In the afternoon there was a competition for everyone, generously sponsored once more by Michigan Motors.

It appeared that a lot of golfers had been inspired by the Shootout and some great golf was evident by the scores in this Stableford competition.

The top 12 positions all scored 43 points or more and the great majority of players all broke par on handicap.

Prize winners were Yitiri Akqama (47), Teremoana Hardie (45), John Teiti, Tere Okirua, Tingika Elikana, and Jqames Herman (all on 44), Ned Howard Alice Pilkinton, John Jessie, and Riiti Mamanu (all on 43).

Our thanks go to Michigan Motors for a great day.

This was rounded out by the mid-year prizegiving so everyone really enjoyed themselves.

Last Saturday was the Edgewater Resort Tournament and also the first round of the Club Stroke Championships, and once again there were some high scores in this Stableford sweep.

To the forefront of these was Jimmy Teokotai who scored 45 points, followed closely by Kimi Manuela who had his best game, carding 85 off the stick for 44 points.

He was joined by Tere Taio also on 44. The other place getters were Archie Moana, John Kenning and Jackie Urlich (all on 43), with John Koteka, Henry Story, Here Story, Katoa Banaba Snr and Katoa Banaba Jnr who all finished with 42 points.

Best rounds off the day came from Henry Story and Haimona Browne who both shot 70 for the Men and Ake Unuka who led the Ladies home with 81.

Thank you to Edgewater Resort for your sponsorship.

Chris and Sharon McGeown were on hand to present the prizes.

Chris himself had a pretty good day on the course shooting a 73 – not bad for someone who hasn’t had much chance to play the course lately, he obviously hasn’t lost his touch.

This Saturday will be the second round of the Stroke Championships and more good scores are expected.

Players should also be playing their Lionel/Virginia games as soon as possible so good luck to all golfers.