Sean Riordan wins GB Open again
Three-time GB Open winner Sean Riordan. Photo: Chris Castle.
Sean Riordan holed a four-foot putt to win the 36-hole Golden Bay Open by one shot last Sunday after staving off a late charge by Nick Van Leeuwen.
Riordan’s win, his third in three years by carding two 68s, was in perfect autumn conditions in front of an appreciative home crowd. He had pars on the last seven holes, sinking several easily missable putts, to keep his focus and stay ahead of the competitors breathing down his neck.
It was a nail-biting finish. Van Leeuwen had a run of four consecutive birdies on 14, 15, 16 and 17 to come from one over to three under, with one hole to play. Had Riordan missed the putt on the last he would have faced a play-off in fast-fading light.
Earlier Riordan was tied with Joel Taylor, before Taylor dropped shots on holes 9, 10 and 11. Shay Hamilton eagled the 4th, and birdied 6 and 8 to get within 2 shots.
On Saturday night Riordan was tied on 68 with Taylor and Jared Armstrong, and one shot ahead of Nelson professional Glyn Delany.
Best overall nett winner was Motueka’s Steve Vercoe on 131 for the two days, with Takaka’s Graeme Sargent taking out the best overall stableford of 81. Senior nett winner was Greenacres’ Paul Salvadore with 136, and senior stableford winner was Nelson’s Jared Armstong with 75.
Motueka professional Jamie Lee Moses scored 153 for the best women’s gross, 9 better than Greenacre’s Lesley Baxter, with best nett going to Murchison’s Sue James on 150 and best stableford to Greenacre’s Katrina Manaena with 67.
Among the intermediate and junior grades it was a Takaka stranglehold. Intermediate gross winner was Len Trent with 157, nett winner Jason Arnst with 133, and stableford winner Rex Heuvel with 73. Among the juniors Graeme Bradley’s 167 was the best gross, Doug Collis scored a best nett of 136 and Graeme McNeil’s stableford score of 75 was tops.
More than 140 people from throughout the Nelson and Tasman Districts, Canterbury and Australia played the weekend tournament with only a little drizzle on Saturday morning to affect play.
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