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May and Weng Win Maiden Titles at Canterbury Match Play 

Zach May and Amy Weng came through some tough opposition to win their maiden titles at the 2021 Hazlett Insurance Canterbury Match Play Championships held at Templeton Golf Club.

For May it continued his steady rise through the amateur ranks to the top echelon of amateur golfers in New Zealand. Through the round of 16 and the quarter-finals on Saturday May played steady golf beating Dan Laughton and Jake Roberts. The giant killer through these rounds was Kris O’Neill who beat No. 1 seed Matt McLean 2/1, then defending champion Mike Toeke 2up. His run was halted in the semis by Canterbury Rep Reid Hilton who beat him on the 18th 1up. Young Yuki Miya was also doing some giant killing of his own beating Queenstown’s Jack Turner, and then No. 2 seed Josh Smith 1up. In the semi it took May’s best golf to stop Miya eventually winning on the 18th, and set up the final against Hilton. The final was a close affair early on.  May was steady, while Hilton was mixing birdies and bogeys. May had a 1up lead after nine holes, and through the back nine Hilton’s putter went cold giving May a 3up advantage that he took to the 16th where he ran out the champion 3/2.

Amy Weng also made another step up in her amateur achievements when she comprehensively beat No.1 seed Maddie May in the final. Weng had accounted for Jasmine Clancy and Tasman’s Lizzie Neale on the way through, while May had a bye straight through to the semi-final where she beat Alisia Ren 9/7. May was favourite for the final but started poorly and never recovered. Weng was playing some excellent golf and always had the out-of-sorts May under pressure. After nine holes she was 2up, and continue that form through to a 5/4 victory.

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Kobori Wins NZ Stroke Play

Kazuma Kobori continues to etch his name in the New Zealand amateur golfing history books after winning the New Zealand Amateur Stroke Play title at Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club.

Kobori carded rounds of 68, 70, 72, and 67 to finish at seven-under par for the tournament and three shots clear of fellow Golf New Zealand National Academy member Sam Jones.

Kobori’s trophy cabinet is growing at a rapid pace and he has yet another piece of silverware. The New Zealand Amateur Stroke Play is a title he’s desperately wanted and has been within touching distance in the last two years, only to come up just shy.

“To be able to lift this trophy, especially after the last two years is great. I came close in 2019 at Christchurch Golf Club against [Luke] Brown after he binned an eagle putt on the last to beat me.

“I came up just short last year as well at Hastings, and it feels really good to finally get my hands on the St Andrews Salver this year,” Kobori says.

The 19-year-old started the day just a shot in front of Jones and made his intentions clear early in his round with a birdie on the first. After making a bogey at the fourth, he made three birdies to close his opening nine at the fifth, seventh, and ninth holes to make the turn at three-under and remain in control.

Kobori picked another shot up at the 12th but gave it back at the tough par 4 17th to keep things interesting. However, he was clinical up the last hitting the par 5 18th green in two and have the liberty of a two-putt birdie to win his first national stroke play title.

“I’ve been playing some really good golf this year after an abysmal year last year. I’ve managed to start the year off strong and I’m hoping to keep the trend going,” he says.

Clearwater Back in Woodward Cup

Four teams contested the Woodward Cup Promotion/Relegation match played at Russley, the competition was between Amberley, Clearwater, Hororata and Lincoln.

Clearwater won the gross stableford competition with 228 points, 34 points ahead of Hororata on 194 points, Amberley on 187 and Lincoln on 171 points. 

Clearwater will now take their place in the 2021 Woodward Cup competition.

Friends of Canterbury Golf Tournament

The first members' tournament proudly sponsored by Telegistics will be held at Waimakariri Gorge Golf Club on Friday 30 April multi-tee start at 12pm. The format will be 3-man ambrose playing in groups of six (two teams). Canterbury Golf will be asking each member to bring two friends (non-members) to play in their team with a small charge to cover catering costs. There will be some great prizes on offer, a BBQ lunch, and afternoon tea. Registration details will be sent to members soon.