From left to right: Zahraa Bester (Girls 27-Hole Strokeplay Champion), George Hodgson (Match Play Champion), Sam Towers (Boys 27-Hole Strokeplay Champion)
2021 Waikato Secondary School Match Play Championships
The 2021 Waikato Secondary School Match Play Championships were held at Te Awamutu Golf Club from March 22nd to the 24th. On day one players competed in a 27-Hole strokeplay round to determine their seeding for the match play rounds.
Zahraa Bester carded the best 27-hole score with rounds of 74 and 34 to secure the number one seed in Division 1. Sam Towers had the best score for the boys with rounds of 73 and 37 which secured him the number three seed in Division 1. Division 2 looked like it would be the most competitive division with five out of the eight players all shooting 122 for 27 holes.
Division 5 was made up of four players who competed in a 36-hole stableford event. Angus Reeves (Hamilton Boys High) scored an impressive 79 points on 36 holes to win first place in Division 5.
In Division 4 Mikae Rangihika (St John’s College) faced DJ Mills (Te Awamutu College) in the final. DJ proved too strong and won the title. Tumanako Hunapo (Te Awamutu College) won the Plate Final beating Lachlan O’Neill (St Paul’s Collegiate).
The Division 3 final saw Din Morrell (Tokoroa High) defeat Heart Iadpluem (St Peter’s Cambridge) to claim the championship. Seiga Ikemura (Hamilton Boys High) defeated Jakob Arthur (Hamilton Boys High) in the Plate final.
The Division 2 final was the battle of the big hitters between Rei Masters (Cambridge High School) and Cole Tosland (Hamilton Boys High). The match went all the way to the 17th hole where Rei Masters sunk his par putt to win 2 & 1. In the Plate Final Shaam Bhullar (Taumarunui High) defeated Hunter Ussher (Whangamata High).
Division 1 was a mouth-watering final between Ing Iadpluem (St Peter’s Cambridge) and George Hodgson (St Peter’s Cambridge). George had been in fantastic form all week defeating Ben Ambler (St Peter’s Cambridge) and the number one seed Zahraa Bester (St Peter’s Cambridge) on his way to the final. Ing had also been in great form defeating Nihal Bhullar (Taumarunui High) and Jakob Bird (Hamilton Boys High). George managed to hold his nerve during the final a sink some crucial putts when it mattered most to win the match 3 & 2 and become the Waikato Secondary School Match Play Champion for 2021.
Thank you to all the schools who participated and a massive thank you to Te Awamutu Golf Club for allowing us to use your course for the event.
For the full results click here
Article added: Tuesday 30 March 2021