Persistent rain failed to dampen spirits as a full field of golfers enjoyed Friends of Football’s seventh annual charity golf day held at Huapai Golf Club.
The EO Driving Change-sponsored event produced some good golf, some great company and outstanding support through raffles and auctions for our Helping Hand Fund.
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Highlights of the day included:
Closest-to-the-pin (hole 16): Paul Marshall won a pair of allbird shoes with his closest-to-the-pin shot on hole 16, a shot that nestled just a few centimetres behind the hole, while Valerie Hancox took out both the closest-to-the-pin and edged Trish Young for women’s longest drive.
Closest-to-the-pin (hole 3): Duane Eagle proved a popular winner of the Asahi-supported contest on hole 3, winning his height in Asahi beer — cheered on by the crowd as the 6’3” giant made his way to collect his ever-increasing stack of prizes!
Hit and win competition: Nick Duke earned himself a fourball at Titirangi Golf Club with the hit and win competition, with golfers teeing up golf balls and trying to ‘score’ into the Score Sportswear mini-goals 50 metres away.
Overall competition
Twenty-five teams competed under Ambrose rules and despite falling rain, the wind largely stayed away and the comfort levels for most were fine tucked up in their weather jackets and under umbrellas, allowing for some great scoring.
The two Manurewa AFC teams put up a great fight, with Rewa Blue and Rewa Golf finishing 6th and 2nd respectively.
Defending champions Waitakere 90’s gave it a good shot, also finishing in the top 10.
But it was the team of Josh Colligan, Jarrod Colligan, Neil Dayal and Shaun O’Mara who proved too strong and took out the Bill MacGowan Memorial Trophy.
On the back of some of the big-hitting from the Colligan boys, they flew home with a net 53.75 to win the Bill MacGowan Memorial Trophy and first prize of the golf bags (from The Clubroom) and a bottle each of Bill’s favourite Jim Beam Bourbon, presented by Bill’s widow Trish Young.
Main photo: The Colligan brothers, Josh and Jarrod, with Neil Dayal and Shaun O’Mara as they receive their prizes and trophy from Trish Young.
The fundraising auction proved popular with items ranging from a golf trip to Wairakei with vehicle Giltrap, a beautiful coffee machine from Altura, a fishing charter courtesy of Eagle Charters, a set of alloy wheels from Advanti, the rare NZ Olympic Golf bag donated by Golf NZ and to be signed by Ryan Fox on his return to New Zealand, and the beautifully presented Chris Wood signed Newcastle United shirt.
All in all, a great day was had, with great compliments on the quality and challenge of the Huapai Golf Course and the burger buffet and support from Asahi that soon had everyone replenished once back in the clubhouse.
Thanks
Thanks to our volunteer support on the day, in particular Carol Waller, Alan, Terry Hobin, Dave Slater and Stuart Dwight from Smart Moves Group.
Organiser Andrew Dewhurst also thanked the Friends of Football committee for their work behind the scenes.
“Finally, to all of our golfers, we couldn’t do this without you!” Dewhurst said.
And he urged teams to watch our website for news of more events, and our next golf day.
“You have to be quick to enter as they sell out fast!”
Thanks to our sponsors
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