The final round of the Covic Shield and Plate championship was played at Pakuranga Golf Club at the end of October.
This was the first occasion that afternoon play has been scheduled and along with sunny and warm conditions it proved popular with the 65 players, who fronted this most difficult of Covic – Counties-Manukau Veterans Inter Club – club courses.
The leading Maramarua team found it so as their title hopes vanished on the tricky fairways and the fast firm greens.
Their demise allowed the Clarks Beach team an opportunity to win the Shield and they took it.
Whilst Wattle Downs were the winners of the round with a massive 160 points, Clarks Beach were solid with 154 and their second place was good enough to become the Covic Shield Champions for 2017.
Remaining places on the day were: Onewhero (148) 3rd, Hauraki (145) 4th, Waiuku (143) 5th, Maramarua (133) 6th. Final Shield standings were: 1st Clarks Beach (15); 2nd Maramarua (17); 3rd Hauraki (20), 4th Wattle Downs (22); 5th Waiuku (25); 6th Onewhero (26).
In the Covic Plate Championship, leaders Huntly struggled into 4th place with 149-points, but they were fortunate that their closest challenger Pukekohe failed to take advantage, ending up in 5th spot with 140-points.
It was no surprise that the home team Pakuranga won the round with 159-points, nor that one of their number Kevin Gibb returned the best round of the day with a personal score of 46-stableford points.
Kevin was awarded the COVIC Claret Jacket as the most deserving player of the day.
Waikare had a good day with a second place (153), followed by Awhitu (150), Huntly (149), Pukekohe (140) and Maxwells. Season standings were: 1st Huntly (14); 2nd equal Pukekohe and Waikare (16); 4th Pakuranga (18); 5th Awhitu (25); 6th Maxwells-Manukau (35).
At the after match season awards presentation, Pakuranga and Covic stalwart Noel Bishop was honoured with the task of presenting the Covic Shield, Plate and Cup Trophies, to representatives of the Clarks Beach, Huntly and Maramarua teams respectively.
The Covic season will conclude with the annual stroke play Open Championship event at Pukekohe Golf Club on November 27.
The top three ‘net score’ players in each of two divisions will win gold, silver and bronze medals in an Olympic-like formatted event, prize sponsored by Big Craig’s Pukekohe Golf Shop.
The top club of the day, based on their best six players’ aggregate net scores, will become the inaugural winners of the Covic Championship Tray and Ale Jug which were on display for the first time at Pakuranga.
