GOLF: Ongaonga bolt into contention for cup | Hawkes Bay Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Hawkes Bay

ANENDRA SINGH

Dark horses Ongaonga are the surprise joint leaders in the race for the Greenwood Cup in Hawke's Bay's interclub golf competition.

Ongaonga were in third spot on the standings with six points and 21.5 games after the three rounds of competition at the Waipukurau Golf Club at the weekend, having defeated Dannevirke 8-2 and Waipukurau 6-4 before taking care of Takapau yesterday 7.5-2.5.

Perry Simpson shot a sub-par round of 67 in his 5and 4 victory against Dannevirke's Dave Hurrell to get things rolling for Ongaonga.

However, defending champions Hastings' 23-game wins put it on the top rung after they overwhelmed Napier 7.5-2.5, blew Takapau off the course 10-0 but had some heart-stopping moments in their 5.5-4.5 victory over Waipukurau.

Hastings Stuart Duff shot 68 and Blair Shaw 69, and Takapau's Nick Radonich and Napier's Thomas Downey, both on 69s, were the other golfers on Saturday morning to join Simpson in the sub-par group.

Maraenui also have six points and 21.5 games like Ongaonga after registering wins against Waipukurau (6-4) and Dannevirke (8.5-1.5) on Saturday and Napier (7-3) yesterday. The standout player for Maraenui is Napier Boys' High School fourth-former Nick Koefoed who won all his three matches against Waipukurau's Richard Baines (1 up), Dannevirke's John Farrell (5 and 4) and Napier's Bruce Middlemiss 3 and 2.

Napier club greenkeeper Middlemiss, Lindisfarne College teacher Duff and Waipukurau's Eden Radonich were the sub-par golfers in round two on Saturday afternoon, all scoring 69.

Yesterday, Hawke's Bay Golf Club's Darryn Turley (67) set the pace for his side yesterday as their 9-1 victory against Dannevirke left them in fourth position with five points from 22-game wins after round 3.

However, Hawke's Bay had to contend with Napier on Saturday afternoon, finishing all square (5-all) but demolishing Takapau 8-2 that morning. That leaves them with easier draws against Dannevirke and Waipukurau whereas Ongaonga still has to play Hastings, Napier, Maraenui and Hawke's Bay in the final four rounds on September 17-18 at Napier Golf Club.

Shaw was the only other golfer to hit a sub-par round yesterday.

Napier have one point with 10.5-game wins while Waipukurau, Dannevirke and Takapau have yet to register a point. Waipukurau had a setback yesterday when Andy Patterson, who defeated Maraenui's Ken Bird 1 up Ongaonga's Barry McGregor 8 and 6, withdrew due to a back injury.

However, David Stratford replaced Patterson yesterday, finishing all square against Hastings' Danny Adcock.* Results - page 21.