Club News
News stories are added on a regular basis. For archived items, please contact the Golf Coordinator.
Local members Jan Lane and Katrina Glass won the Ladies section at the Philip Wareing Ltd 2 Day Multi – sponsored Tournament over the weekend. The field of 78 teams, 156 golfers, enjoyed the superb course conditions and the amazing fine weather.
In the Men’s section the best of the Methven teams was Clinton Burrell-Smith and Michael Smith, last year’s winners, who finished 3rd.
The winners Tony Fitzgerald and Malcolm Collins from Christchurch lead by six shots after Saturday’s four ball. They managed to hold off Ross MacLennan and Gavin Doody from Rakaia by one shot. The Rakaia pair had come from nine shots back to get second.
Sharon Burrell-Smith and Dean Wilson were the closest to scoring a hole in one on No 17 and winning $20,000, $10,000 for themselves and $10,000 for the Club.
Locals also took out the major raffle prizes off the course. Simon Wareing won the Methven Golf Adventure and Gayle O’Duffy won the Millbrook voucher.
The Methven Golf Club thanks Opuke Pools, Rakaia Jet, Newzengland Ltd, Mt Hutt Ski, Mt Hutt Motels Adventure Balloons along with the Methven Golf Club.
Oh yes it was double celebration for Katrina. Her two year old horse won at Motukarara on Sunday.
Led by a superb 45 points by Craig J Middleton Methven Golf Club finished 2nd in the Norton Francis Trophy invitation tournament at the Christchurch Golf Club’s Shirley course on Saturday. The team of Middleton, Michael Kemp, Alister Maxwell, Ross Breach was just 1 point behind the winners from Amberley.
Middleton with his round of 75 won the Intermediate gross to give Methven a winner for the day.
The tournament had a change of format this year from 4 ball par round to individual stablefords.
This performance has continued the success that Methven has had at the Trophy Tournament since 2020 when it won it for the first time. The team finished 2nd in 2021 and now 2nd both times pipped by Amberley.
Congratulations Methven.
Patterson Johnson at 12 years old has become the youngest champion at the Methven Golf Club. He overcame the wet conditions and a determined Ian Lucas in the Junior 36 hole final on Saturday to write his name in the Club’s approaching 100 year history.
As a true champion he did it in style. After taking an early 2 up lead Lucas pegged him back to go to lunch with a two up lead. After 27 holes Johnson had regained the lead 1 up. He then took control as he pared three of the next four holes to be on the brink of victory. He then sealed his first championship on the par 4 No 14 pond hole with another par.
His victory was matched by his Grandad, Phil Johnson. He quickly built up a lead in the first 9 holes in the Intermediate championship to be four up against Mx Ferris. Ferris fought back on the second 9 to keep it at four. After lunch Johnson quickly found his touch and doubled his lead with the match finishing 10 and 9.
Greg Overall took on Dayle Lucas in the Senior championship with the lead changing several times over the first 27 holes. Then Overall took control as Lucas’ putting began to let him down. Overall’s consistency brought an early end at the 31st.
In the Ladies Finals the Bronze A and Silver finals both went the 36 holes.
Ellen Kemp and Tania Wilson played a gripping Bronze A final in the trying conditions on a course with greens in superb condition. With one then the other taking the lead Wilson came to the 36th hole wanting only a halve to become the champion. Kemp however won the hole. It meant going to the 37th and beyond. On the 40th hole, the par 3 4th Kemp finally became the champion in the seesawing match.
Similarly in the Silver final Angela Mowbray and Sara Gallagher had a close seesawing match. Even though both players found the conditions difficult to play at times there was never more than two holes between the players. When it mattered Mowbray took the lead 1up and maintained it to win with the 36th halved.
In the Bronze B Final Jane Helmore was able to overcome the conditions early in her match against Heather Middleton to take the lead and maintained it over the first 18 holes to be 8 up. Middleton never gave up and was able to match Helmore over the first 9 holes in the afternoon but the lead was just too great. Helmore won on the 28th hole.
All the players enjoyed the warmth of the Clubrooms afterwards.
Young Methven golfers, Patrick Currie and Finn McGrath have performed well for Aorangi recently in the North Island.
Patrick played No 2 in the combined Aorangi-Southland six person team at the Under 19 Inter provincials in Cambridge. He said it was a pretty tough week playing some pretty impressive young golfers on plus handicaps from around the county. He played seven rounds over five days in the second week of the holidays. “I tell you my shoulders definitely knew about that by Friday,” was his first comment.
“It was as an awesome week and I would definitely recommend any young golfers coming through to strive to make this team in future years because it’s a hell of an eye opening experience,” added Currie.
He stayed at St Peters School with all the other golfers for the week.
Meanwhile Finn was representing the Eagles Aorangi three person team in New Plymouth over three days in the Under 17 Eagles Tournament. The team finished 5th equal with Auckland against 14 other teams. In the individual boys section he was 14th out of 32 for stablefords and 16th for netts. His Stableford score of 91 over the three days was 91 just six behind the winner. He had rounds of 94,91 and 86. His score could have been even better if he had not lost two balls on each of the first two days. He was very satisfied with his performance.
Well done Patrick and Finn. It certainly has been an exciting time for young Methven golfers.
Visiting golfers Michael Aitken and Sam Horsnell have won the Molloy Agriculture Limited in association with Philip Wareing Ltd High Country Classic by just one shot. They led the field after a damp day at Fable Terrace Downs and just held on after a hot day at Methven from Tracy Rees and Simon Rees. Simon mastered the conditions at Fable Terrace Downs with the best score of 40 points.
Best of the Methven teams was Jack Brown and Robin who were 4th. Last year’s winners Alton Fletcher and Bailey Fletcher-Young finished 6th while Murray McLeod and Chris Lock finished 10th.
Players came from 16 visiting clubs from Kaikoura in the north to Gleniti in the south.
Visitors enjoyed the weekend so much that they vowed to come back in 2024.
The four ball format finals were two closely contested matches played in perfect conditions on the Methven Golf Course.
In the Duff Trophy final Paul Middleton and Lock fell behind early against Greg Overall and Craig J Middleton but fought back to have the match all square after 9 holes. In the fourball format Middleton and Lock combined well using their strokes to advantage. It meant that Overall, who was playing superb scratch golf, along with Craig J Middleton could not make any impression. The match changed when Middleton and Lock won 15th and 16th holes and then sealed the match 2 and 1 on the 17th. Overall’s amazing gross of 72 was not enough.
The Middleton final was also a close fought match with Duff and Sandys up against Michael Kemp and Ben Rutter. The teams were all square after 9 holes and still square playing the 14th. Duff and Sandys then won the next 3 holes to seal the match on the 16th 3 and 2.
Local Methven golfers father and son duo, Alton Fletcher and Bailey Fletcher-Young, have won the Molloy Agriculture Ltd /Philip Wareing Ltd High Country Classic by a massive 7 points. Bailey, the youngest player in the field of 50 teams, outshone all the other players, highlighted with 45 stableford points at Methven. Congratulations.
Locals, Wanda Campbell and Hiromi Ikehata finished 3rd.
The tournament was played at Terrace Downs on Saturday and Methven on Sunday in hot and sunny conditions.
Players came from 19 visiting clubs from Auckland in the north to Cromwell in the south.
Individual highlights included a hole in one by Tony Carroll at Terrace Downs par 3 16th and an eagle by AJ Kerr at Methven on the par 5 no 10th hole.
Visitors enjoyed the weekend so much that they vowed to come back in 2023.
View results here.
L to R – President, Ross Breach winners Alton Fletcher, Bailey Fletcher-Young
Success for locals at the Philip Wareing Ltd Multi-Sponsored 2 Day Golf Tournament
Local members Jane Helmore and Ros Grant won the Women’s section at the Philip Wareing Ltd 2 day Multi – sponsored Tournament over the weekend. The field of 92 teams, 184 golfers, enjoyed the superb course conditions and for most of the time the fine weather.
Helmore and Grant combined well in the four ball on Saturday while Helmore, with a superb nett 68, the best women’s round on Sunday, led the way, well supported by Grant. They clinched victory by 4 shots with a score of 205 from Greymouth’s Carolyn Williams/ Colleen Buchanan and Rakaia’s Sandra Quinn/Sally Smith.
In the Men’s section the best of the Methven Teams was major sponsor, Simon Wareing, and Richard Maw who finished 3rd, six shots back from the winners James Smith and Lance Smith from Bottle Lake. Rakaia’s Brian Quinn and Graham Doody were 2nd on 201.
Steve Schwass and Greg Overall finished 4th closely followed by Leyton Blackwell and Jeremy Johnson in 5th.
It was pleasing to have younger members playing in the tournament for the first time and performing well. Rory Maxwell and Mark Wilson led the way on Saturday with a superb four ball score of 59. Maxwell backed that up with a nett 70 on the Sunday along with two closest to the pins on Saturday. Well done.
The best visiting club was Rakaia.
There were players from 26 visiting clubs from Hawea in the south, Greymouth and Westport in the west and Pegasus to the north. The players enjoyed the tournament although they missed out on the social activities that had to be curtailed because of Level 2 restrictions.
Click here for the Sponsored Tournament Results
Ladies winners: left to right: Steve Schwass, Men’s vice Captain, Sharon Burrell-Smith Ladies Captain, winners Ros Grant, Jane Helmore
Men’s winners: James Smith, Lance Smith
“It has taken me 85 years to play Methven for the first time,” Sir Bob Charles’ quipped on arrival early Sunday morning. He was at the Methven Golf Club as a guest of the Devils Own Committee to play and promote his recently published book.
Playing off a 1 handicap on the course (Other courses I play off a 2!!) he had 2 birdies and 4 bogeys to finish with a 73, 12 better than his age. Superb weather and course conditions allowed for a great scoring day.
After completing his round he was met by Allan Smith, Methven Golf Club’s oldest active member at 92 years young. They quickly hit it off. Charles told him he had a Methven connection, an Aunty taught at the local school 100 years ago.
In an interview afterwards he was asked what he thought of the course. It is a beautiful course. The greens were consistent and he was impressed with the variety of trees, especially as most of them are evergreens, and the beautiful rhododendrons.
Before the results were announced the Club presented Charles with some Methven Golf Club labelled momentos and a copy of the 75th history booklet. He then donated a copy of his book to the Club.
The results of the 2 day Devils Own tournament were then announced. Sir Bob and his partner, Brendan Callaghan, won the team Stableford prize by lot from 3 other teams (It was done legit according to the match committee).
The Devils Own Tournament run by the Canterbury Law Society returned to Methven after a year’s absence.
Several of the 75 players have been coming since it started coming to Methven in the 1980s.
Sir Bob Charles hopes to return soon, maybe even to the 100 year celebrations in 2024.
Sir Bob Charles 85 with oldest active Club member Allan Smith 92 years young!!
Sir Bob Charles putting on no 18 green
Methven Golf finish 2nd in Norton Francis Trophy
Stuart Wilson, James Anderson, Geoff Rhodes and John McGettigan have combined to finish 2nd behind Amberley in the Norton Francis Golf Trophy at the Christchurch Golf Club. There was added pressure on them as Methven was the defending champions. For a moment they thought they had won to retain the trophy but it wasn’t to be. But it was a great day playing against at least 10 other clubs.
The Trophy (named in memory of one of the founding members of the Christchurch Club) is played for each year but because there are so many Clubs in Canterbury each Club is invited every two years. It has been played for over 100 years.
The format of the tournament is unusual – it is a nett par four ball (birdies are worth +1, pars 0, bogeys -1).
Methven totaled +8 to finish behind Amberley on +10.
Congratulations.
Photo: The team celebrating
L to R Geoff Rhodes, Stuart Wilson, James Anderson, John McGettigan
Redpath Winners
The Redpath team’s success in the final at Fairlie, recently, is nothing new for the team. The team of 2017 also won the final. It included three of this year’s team, Michael Kemp, Dayle Lucas and Alister Maxwell. The 4th member was Craig J Middleton. Steve Schwass, the 4th member in 2021, had a weekend to remember. He won the senior championship on Saturday and then turned up at Fairlie without his golf shoes!!
Photo: L to R – Michael Kemp, Steve Schwass, Dayle Lucas, Alister Maxwell
Methven 9 Hole Tournament a success
Perfect weather and course conditions were provided for the 90 9 hole players who turned up at the Methven Tournament on Friday. The organisers were thrilled with the tournament.
There was success for some of the Methven players.
In Grade 1, Hiromi Ikehata had the best nett of 33 and the longest drive. Bryan Petrie had the best nett of 33 in the Men’s section while John Barwell had the best stableford of 20. Other prize winners were – Annette Maw 2nd Stableford by lot in Grade 2, Bridget Thompson was 4th in Grade 3 stableford and Kevin Thompson was 5th in the Men’s Stableford. Congratulations.
Golf Championships completed in superb conditions
After all the setbacks with weather and covid it was a relief to have the Club Championships Day dawn sunny with just a chilly morning breeze on Saturday October 16. With the course in superb condition to help the golfers, a small crowd gathered at No 1 tee for the early tee times to wish the protagonists’ good luck for their 36 holes. They were entertained by some great tee shots from most of the finalists, which seemed to set the tone for the day. There was some great golf played to keep the following supporters entertained. All games were still very much alive by the halfway mark with some great scrambling keeping them close. Angela Mowbray took charge after lunch, in the Ladies Silver, winning five of the first 9 holes against Sara Gallagher and sealed the match at the 31st. In Bronze B it was a close tussle all the way between Bev Isherwood and Denisse Hood with Isherwood finally winning on the 35th. Jan Lane defeated Jane Helmore earlier in the month to win the Bronze A Championships. In the Senior Men’s match, Steve Schwass took an early lead but Alister Maxwell fought back and kept it close. As the group of supporters following the game increased throughout the afternoon, the standard of golf increased with some great shots seen. Schwass held on to win at the 35th. Both James Anderson and Stuart Wilson applied the pressure, early, in the Intermediate and Junior A Finals, respectively, to build big leads at the end of 18 holes. Their opponents, Pete Wood and Tim Robinson, fought back valiantly in the afternoon with some great shots but it was in vain. The morning deficit was too much to overcome. In the Junior B final, played over 18 holes, Bruce Dickson was 2 up after 2 holes against Ian Lucas. This was to prove crucial as the match progressed. Dickson won the match at the 16th. In the Senior Knockout Frank Sandys came from behind to beat Paddy Helmore at the 33rd hole. Flights were also played, over 18 holes.
Men’s Club Champions:
Senior – Steve Schwass
Intermediate – James Anderson
Junior – Stuart Wilson Junior B – Bruce Dickson
Ladies’ Club Champions:
Silver- Angela Mowbray
Bronze A – Jan Lane
Bronze B – Bev Isherwood
Men’s Flights:
Senior – Frikke Greybie
Intermediate- Keith Middleton
Junior A – Mike Gray
Junior B – Jim Rooney
Knockout champions:
Senior- Frank Sandys
Junior – Still to be played
L to R: Steve Schwass, James Anderson, Stuart Wilson, Bruce Dickson, Angela Mowbray, Jan Lane, Bev Isherwood.
Methven enjoys a successful week at interclub competitions
1. Interclub Results
The Penny Pennant Team recorded its first win last week with a comprehensive 12 1/2 – 4 1/2 win over Grande Vue. A happy Gary Foy said the players overcame the miserable conditions to enjoy the win. Well done. Not to be outdone the Moyes team continued on its winning way, also in miserable conditions, on Sunday by winning 12-5 to remain unbeaten. Likewise the Redpath team continued on its unbeaten run with a 10-2 win at Geraldine. The Ladies Sunday Pennant Team suffered its first loss on Sunday 3 1/2 to 8 1/2 but still leads the competition by one point. Congratulations to all players for playing in the wet conditions. Keep it up.
2. John Deere Tournament at Weedons
The 14th annual John Deere Sponsored tournament was played yesterday on a wet Weedons course and Methven was amongst the prizes – claiming three of the four closest to the pin prizes. Phil Johnson won two of them and Paul Plimmer one, while Phil was the first name on the 3rd.
Along with Bruce Dickson the team enjoyed the 3 ball elimination scramble event format that was played.
