POVERTY BAY GOLF PRO AM 2010

Holloway, Hill tie at Electrinet Pro Am

DOUG Holloway’s romance with Poverty Bay golf course continued yesterday but he had to share the victory loving with Scott Hill in the fifth edition of the Electrinet Poverty Bay Pro-am.

For the third time in five visits, Holloway pocketed top dollar in the $10,000 tournament although it was a combination of first and second money this time.

Hawke’s Bay professional Holloway and Brisbane-based former Aucklander Hill both shot four-under-par 68s as the amateurs and pros battled squally south-easterly rain in the afternoon.

Hill, second to Holloway last year, had the championship course record of 66 in his sights.

He teed off the 14th six-under after birdies on the second, fifth, sixth, seventh, 12th and 13th but bogeys on 14 and 15 derailed his hopes.

Recently married Holloway had five birdies and one bogey, which denied him sole possession of a third Poverty Bay pro-am title, his having won in 2007 over 36 holes and last year with 67.

Canterbury’s John Bae, fresh from winning the Hastings pro-am, was third with three-under 69. He also started strongly with an opening-nine 32 but battled through the much tougher back nine.

The  only others to post red figures were Mathew Holten and Jared Pender, with 70. Holten’s round was highlighted by an eagle-two after driving the 311-metre seventh hole.

Grant Moorhead, Jordan Dasler and Nicholas Davey shot 72,  and Jon Bevitt and David Klein completed the top 10 with 73.

Hill, at 38, returned to the professional ranks after three years out of the game. He has been playing in various pro-ams and Von Nida tour events but is hoping to crack into a “decent tour”.

He came to Gisborne for the first time last year and loves the Bay course so much, he rates it one of his favourites.

Each of the pros was teamed with three amateurs for a stableford team competition.

The overall winners were the Cameron Construction Bunnings No 1 team of Holten (pro), Pete Cameron, Danny Boyle and Derek Craven, with 50 points.

They won on countback from the Eastland Bearings team of Jonathan Huntley (pro), Rob Johnstone, Phil Grogan and new golfer Sue Croskery.

A bucket was passed around and an auction held at prizegiving to raise money for Lloyd Foss and his family, who lost their house in a fire on Friday — these efforts raised $840.

Most of the professionals next head to Bay of Plenty for the last two events of the NZ PGA order of merit.

BY CHRIS TAEWA