Church, Bai, Chung Harcourts Strokeplay Champions

On an immaculately turned out Boulcott's Farm course, the 2019 Harcourts Wellington 72 Hole Strokeplay was completed over the weekend.

The weather did its best to disrupt proceedings, upwards of a half hour delay within Saturday morning and a 40 minute delay to Sunday morning's start, but never the less with big efforts all round and understanding from the players, all 4 rounds were completed, eventually in fine sunny conditions Sunday afternoon. 

Darae Chung had opened up a 3rd round, 8 shot lead in the Women's event over Manawatu/Wanganui No.1 Tara Raj, with Raj coming storming home in round 4 with the tournament low over all players,  a 5 under 67, closing the gap but not denying the repeat Champion Chung who tidied up with an even par 72. Local player Shontalia William, after an 18 month injury enforced break, showed her form is returning with a nice 4 rounds of golf and 3rd place.

In the Men's championship, overnight leader Jayden Ford was drawn with his Judgeford club team mate Adam Church and young Auckland phenom Joshua Bai, staying with the Ford family for the event. Church and Bai would draw away from Ford in the final round, trading birdies early, then matching par for par all the way to the 72nd hole, a playoff of two more par's not separating the two as fading light eventually saw the title shared. Manawatu/Wanganui No.1 Tyler Wood was two shots back in 3rd place with Wellington Rep team mates Kerry Mountcastle and Elton Nicholson in 4th spot a further shot back.