Titirangi's Hitomi Nishio has a hand (or two) on the Women's Golf Trust Shield after a second round 69 to give her a total of 142, 2-under the card on the challenging Omanu Course. Hitomi is no stranger to the national women's mid-amateur having won the championship in 2021 when played at Shandon.
Her combined total of 142 is 11 strokes clear of the field. With a tough road to travel to hunt down the leader, in second place after two rounds is Angela Gerken (Timaru) who sits on 151 (76, 75) ahead by one from Tracy Bary (Rarangi) and Heather Keefe (Rotorua) whose 2 rounds both total 154.
Hitomi's card records three 2's on the front 9, birding both par 3's - the 4th and the 7th. Playing opponents record that she nearly holed the 7th, with a shot that landed only inches away from the hole. Accuracy on the par 4 - 9th gave Hitomi her 3rd two with a shot from an estimated 100metres out, bouncing twice and into the hole for an eagle. The only blemish on this impressive card was a bogie on the 18th, when a chip on was 'over-cooked', two putts later down she went for a 5, on the par 4 doglegged hole.
It's a two horse at this stage for the Men's Neil Woodbury Cup with local Omanu Champion, Hayden White leading the field with a 135 after rounds of 67 & 68, 9 under the par 72 course. One shot back is Richard White (Matamata) on 136 after carding a 68 today to match his 68 of yesterday. Not to be overlooked and in the same group in tomorrow's final round, will be Matt Cormack (Remuera) who shot 69 yesterday and 71, total 140, one ahead of fellow Remuera member Brad Winger.
Full leaderboard and all scores see https://www.golf.co.nz/tournament-leaderboard?tournamentid=undefined&competitionid=962264