Matt Tautari (Southland) and Juliana Hung (Russley) are favoured to win the big prizes when they tee off for the final three rounds in the Southland strokeplay championship on the Otatara course in Invercargill this weekend.
After winning the Otago title two weeks ago, Tautari has a four-shot lead on Canterbury title winner Dominic Brettkelly (Hororata). Ben Baker (Russley) and Fraser MacLachlan (Millbrook) are a further five shots back.
The competition combines the three strokeplay events — Canterbury, Otago and Southland — played in recent weeks.
Tautari will have the advantage of local knowledge as his Southland club is moving to Otatara with the imminent closure of Oreti Sands in April.
Brettkelly is on target for success as he is not only placed second in the men’s event but leads the under-19 men’s list by five shots from Baker with Kazuma Kobori (Rangiora) a further stroke back. The series is sponsored by House of Travel.
Canterbury women dominate their event as Hung goes into this weekend six shots ahead of Jeong Hyun Lee (Christchurch).
Roun Lee and Jin Young Hong (both Harewood) are third and fourth respectively but the women’s event is set to be a two-way battle as they are too far off the pace at this stage.
The standings
Leading contenders after two of three tournaments of the strokeplay championship.—
Men
1st prize: $1250, 2nd prize: $750.
422 — Matt Tautari (Southland).426 — Dominic Brettkelly (Hororata).
431 — Ben Baker (Russley); Fraser MacLachlan (Millbrook).
432 — Kazuma Kobori (Rangiora); Liam Balneaves (Greenacres).
439 — Jeremy Hall (Greenacres).
441 — Phil Bungard (Templeton); Ryan Bellamy (St Clair).
444 — Duncan Croudis (Otago).
Women
1st prize: $625
421 — Juliana Hung (Russley).
427 — Jeong Hyun Lee (Christchurch).
435 — Roun Lee (Harewood).
438 — Jin Young Hong (Harewood).
Men under-19
1st prize: $625.
426 — Dominic Brettkelly (Hororata).
431 — Ben Baker (Russley);.
432 — Kazuma Kobori ( Rangiora).
