National Tournament at Mercury Bay Golf Club
National Tournament at Mercury Bay Golf Club
Golf New Zealand Senior Women’s Foursomes
By Denise Langdon of PaR Nz
It was Mercury Bay’s night after three days of rain affected 2022 Senior Women’s Foursomes, with Kay Buckeridge & Christine Van Veen (Fairview & Mercury Bay) winning the NZLGU Championship. Kay who now hails from Fairview, Katikati, and was a past Mercury Bay club champion and a course record holder, only moved recently to the Fairview Golf Club. With many ties in Mercury Bay and a course she knows well, Kay teamed up with ‘newbie’ Christine van Veen, who had never played in a national tournament.
The pair qualified 10th in Monday’s net round, but then went on to have four solid wins to take the 2022 title. Their final win, 3 and 2 was over another local pair, Lynne Butler & Robyn Evans (Mercury Bay). All four are pictured together.
Despite several delays and a few massive rain bombs that left the country course flooded at times and a soggy challenge, the 62 pairs played with conviction and the 2022 tournament was completed.
The players, who came from as far away as Canterbury to Northland, had an 18-hole qualifying round before splitting into four divisions. The pairs playing in their divisions then compete in 18-hole match play, handicap foursomes. Top qualifiers were Ngaire English and Robyn Pardy (North Shore) who after losing their first-round match, competed in the Plate, losing that final Thursday afternoon, not able to match Monday’s fine form.
Despite the weather the course was in excellent condition with many staff and volunteers taking on the challenge of a national tournament, and preparing the flat fairways, greens and surrounds for months. Many accolades were passed to the club last Thursday night for their course presentation, enthusiasm and efforts in all areas including the large field of volunteers preparing food for the lunches and several functions.
PaR nz Golfing Holidays who manage the tournament on behalf of Golf New Zealand announced that the 2023 tournament will be hosted at Katikati’s Fairview Golf Course. Details and entry forms will be available mid-2023.
Caption :Mercury Bay team from left: Robyn Evans, Lynne Butler, Christine van Veen, Kay Buckeridge. Christine and Kay - were the winners of the NZLGU Championship. Below: Kay Buckeridge tees off on the last day of play.