Caption: Winners, from left Marie Platt, Trevor Fox, Nitulesh Mali, Bill Platt.
Nitulesh Mali, Managing Director of Mali Pest Control (Sigatoka) led his team to a 13 shot victory in the 2013 Sheraton Fiji Villa Teams Challenge, played at the Denarau Golf & Racquet Club last week.
Announced at the Awards Ceremony last night at the Sheraton Fiji Resort, ‘The New Foreplay’ team included Mali and Trevor Fox both members of the Denarau Golf & Racquet Club, along with long time supporters of the tournament, Bill and Marie Platt who are members of the Wellington based, Manor Park Golf Club.
The tournament, organised by PaR nz Golfing Holidays, includes four days of golf, scored under a modified stableford scoring system, with handicaps changing daily.
“The scoring system was first introduced by John Cooper previously from ISTAS. John is well known in Fiji and his system allows for members of differing clubs and countries to compete fairly, where the handicaps are adjusted daily. Teams are encouraged to get a team name, with themed functions a big part of the week” said Tournament Director Denise Langdon.
The Platt’s team with Mali and Fox was hastily assembled when two regular team members had to withdraw at the last minute due to illness. The Platt’s have been playing the event for six years with two other Manor Park members. When they had to withdraw just 6 days out from the tournament, Fox and Mali stepped in to take their place.
“It is unbelievable that we won” said Bill Platt in accepting his Sheraton Fiji Winners Trophy. “We been coming here for six years, for the friendship and the fun, and don’t worry too much about the results, these two guys (Mali & Fox) have just been amazing” he said emotionally.
Second equal position was shared between the defending champions, Bill and Neridah Bradstreet partnered with Colin and Sandy Nicholson, and the team of Jo and Ron Nolan, whose team members included brothers Warwick and Greg Copeland. The Bradstreets and Nicholsons play out of the Wakehurst and Palm Beach Golf Clubs in Australia, while the Nolan’s and Warwick Copeland are Auckland based golf club members. Younger brother Greg is a member of Peregian Springs. Both teams scored 864 points each.
Fourth place went to Dennis Green (Manukau), with Paul and Chris Mackenzie (Matamata) and Jay Mamidenna from Charlestown (Australia). Their score of 862 was a further 2 shots back.
This tournament has been hosted by PaR nz Golfing Holidays for 9 years and has attracted players from around the Pacific in its history. “We will announce exact dates for the 2014 tournament shortly” said Langdon at the Awards Ceremony, “but it looks like we will set on the first week of September” she alluded to last night.
Full results
1 – 877: THE NEW FOREPLAY; Bill Platt (NZ), Marie Platt (NZ), Trevor Fox (FJ), Nitulesh Mali (FJ)
2 – 864: WHACKAPALM; Sandy Nicholson (AU), Colin Nicholson (AU), Neridah Bradstreet (AU), Bill Bradstreet (AU): THE 3 PR’S; Warwick Copeland (NZ), Greg Copeland (AU), Jo Nolan (NZ), Ron Nolan (NZ)
4 – 862: CHARMACOW; Dennis Green (NZ), Chris Mackenzie (NZ), Paul Mackenzie (NZ), Jay Mamidenna (AU)
5 – 861: THE BENT ANZACS; John Crook (AU), Di Crook (AU), Simon Cox (NZ), Sue Cox (NZ)
6 – 853: BULA VA; Rob Turnbull (NZ), Helen Turnbull (NZ), Ken Magill (NZ), Elaine Magill (NZ)
7 – 848: THE MOO-BYS; Phil Dunn (AU), Sue Dunn (AU), Jo-Anne Stanning (AU), Glenn Brown (AU)
8 – 847: THE 4 URO’S; Karen Cater (NZ), Karen Purdy (NZ), Susan Binks (NZ), Linda Millsteed (NZ)
9 – 846: THORN BETWEEN ROSES; Deb Taylor (NZ), Tish Amon (NZ), Eric Pedersen (NZ), Lynn Pedersen (NZ)
10 – 841: FIJI TIME; Michael Smith (AU), Anne Stewart (AU), Judith Simpson (NZ), Amy Subam (FJ)
11 – 834: MAYFIELD MAYHEM; Marilyn Cross (NZ), Steve Cross (NZ), Trish Corbett (NZ), Jack Allan (NZ)
12 – 832: HUNKS N HUSSIES; Steve Hosken (NZ), Janne Hosken (NZ), Ray Snooks (NZ), Robin Hale (NZ)
13 – 829: FUMDUCKS; Reg Caldow (NZ), Barb Caldow (NZ), Sue Campbell (NZ), Grant Campbell
14 – 828: 4 SHADES OF GREY; Chris Ellett (NZ), Mary Haggas (NZ), Sally Chambers (NZ), Linzi Bull (NZ)
15 – 825: THE MOUNTIES; Derek Larsen (NZ), Jane Larsen (NZ), Jan Lowther (NZ), Gerald Kelly (NZ)
16 – 821: GOPHER BROKE; Ron Edwards (NZ), Lyn Edwards (NZ), Ray Johnson (NZ), Martha Johnson (NZ)
17 – 815: FIJI FLOOZIES; Sulu Brook (FJ), Edwina Petersen (FJ), Sereima Bale (FJ), Linda Callaghan (FJ)
18 – 790: THE GREY WACKIES; Sue Gibbs (NZ), Richard Gibbs (NZ), Warwick Wakeham (NZ), Jennifer Wakeham (NZ)
19 – 779: JELLY & ICECREAM; Jan Hunter (NZ), Bill Sinden (NZ), Diane Jellyman (NZ), Jock Jellyman (NZ)
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