The 38^th Te Marua Masters, a 72-hole golf event, was held at Te Marua Golf Club over 4 days from 27^th – 30^th December, 2016. The Te Marua Golf Club, founded in 1931, introduced the tournament in the 1970’s  and opened it all golfers who hold an official Golf Handicap. It is played in divisions which gives everyone, from the top echelon to those who just enjoy the experience of Tournament golf, a real and fair chance of going home with a prize in their hands.

Primary sponsor, Sherwin Construction, helps immensely to give the tournament its profile and standing in the calendar of regional golf events. Their support is welcomed and appreciated by all, particularly Te Marua Golf Club’s Committee and the volunteers responsible for running the event.

The tournament field was made up of members of Golf Club members from around the greater Wellington region, the far north, the West Coast (down south), the Gold Coast and NSW Australia, even a young fellow visiting from Korea,  all adding a truly international flavour to what has become a popular event on the Upper Hutt calendar.

There are 5 competition divisions, 3 for men and 2 for women, all based on current golf handicap index as at Day 1 of the tournament and within the divisions, contests for best Gross (total actual score), Net Medal (actual scores minus course handicap) and daily Stableford (points per hole based on course handicap). “Novelty” prizes for achievements such as longest drive from the tee on specified par-5 holes, nearest the pin on nominated par-3’s along with holes-in-two being all being recognised in the prize distribution.

But as the name suggests, this is the Te Marua “Masters” and following the lead of the U.S. PGA Tour’s world renowned Augusta Masters’ tradition, the golfers with the best 72-hole score in their division of the Te Marua Masters, earn themselves a Masters Jacket, a Te Marua Masters “Blue Jacket”.

Wellington Golf (Inc) have for the last few years included the Te Marua Masters as the first event in their Order of Merit programme for the coming year which has seen a good number of the region’s top golfers take up the opportunity to make a positive start to the 2017 season.

The Men’s Senior division, for the top golfers, saw a tight competition with only 3 shots separating the first three places, with the winner, Michael Trass from Royal Wellington, on a score of 292. Brad Rowland of Miramar and Cameron Elers of Paraparaumu Beach, both finished on 295, with Brad pipping Cameron for second on a countback.

The Intermediate division, for the mid-range handicappers, was also a closely contested event with the ability to master the pressure of possibilities and expectation proving to be a key factor. Te Marua Golf Club member – and defending champion – Kayne Martin retained his title of Intermediate Masters Champion with a final round score of 78 giving him a 3-shot victory over fellow Te Marua member, Norm Muir.

The Junior division saw the lead change a couple of times with a big swing from Day 1 to Day 2 and back again in Day 3. But in manner similar to the Intermediate division, consistency and being able to master the range of conditions which contribute to good golf led John Grant of Boulcott’s Farm to a score of 351 and 9-shot win over Te Marua’s Andrew Black.

The Women’s competitions comprise 2 divisions labelled Silver, contested by the low handicappers and Bronze by those in the higher handicap range. In the Silver division, Australian visitor Hannah Park proved why she holds a +2 handicap, taking out the event by 7 shots and a score of 289 from runner up Darae Chung from Shandon who returned a 72-hole score of 297. Special mention here of Darae Chung’s final round score, a 6 under par 65, a new Women’s course record for the Te Marua Yellow course.

In the Bronze division, experience, composure and perhaps some local knowledge saw Te Marua club member Kerry Baines sharing with Te Marua club member Faye Turner at the end of Day 1 but then taking control of the division to eventually win with a 72-hole score of 375, an 8-shot advantage over second-placed Ange Walsh, another Te Marua club member.

To all the 2016 and 38^th Te Marua Masters champions, Hannah Park (Silver), Kerry Baines (Bronze), Michael Trass (Senior), Kayne Martin (Intermediate) and John Grant (Junior), congratulations, well played and we look forward to seeing you return to defend your 2016 Masters Champion title at 39^th Te Marua Masters in December 2017.