The 2007 NZDG Match Play Champs

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Story by Bob Gentil

It’s a great form of the game Match Play!

There’s every chance of an upset and the player who can perform the most consistently is normally rewarded, and that was exactly the case at the 2007 event held on the beautiful Redwood course in Te Papa Tipu Park at RotoVegas. Our thanks must again go to Scion [a crown research institute specialising in sustainable and renewable resources] for allowing us to use this fabulous piece of real-estate.

All week the forecast was for fine weather so I wasn’t surprised to wake on the Saturday morning to a great day for disc golf, a little breeze and light cloud cover made for perfect condies.

Marty the TD got the players meeting under way and with the now traditional flip of the disc the 2 metre OB rule was in effect for the first 2 rounds.

Who would make the top half of the draw and compete for the NZ Title? Who would drop to the plate competition? There were some intriguing first round match ups!

As the players came out of the woods for lunch the scores went up. Simon Feasey had beaten Tim McVitty 5&4, David Speedo Keene took out Josh Smith 2&1, Dean Marshall needed 2 extra holes to take our Brett Hailstone [first game back for Brett after elbow problems], Martin de Haas dealt to Nigel Hailstone 5&4, the GM had a close one with Bazz Keene 3&2, Siep Van Vliet went 2&1 over the only south islander Mario Cernier, the Lost Tribes Pete Boyle gave Bruno Whale a 5&4 lesson and Blair Joines  sent Waiheke’s Nigel Barnwell to the plate final with a 5&4 score line.

Time for round number 2, things were hotting up in the top half of the field. It was go hard or go home time!

Wow!!! Defending champ Simon Feasey the teacher was taken to 5 extra holes with the student Speedo Keene scoring the biggest win of his career, the celebration was worth being part of the gallery, Marty de Haas took Tauranga’s Dean Marshall out of the equation with a 3&2, Bob nabbed a place in the semi’s with a substantial 5&4 win over Siep and the old fella from Taumarunui Pete Boyle continued his consistent play with a 1 up win over fellow Lost Tribe member Blair Joines.
So the semi final round under bright blue skies on the Sunday morning saw Marty de Haas take on the giant killer David Keene in one match and in the other it was the battle of the Grand Masters, Bob against Pete Boyle.

There was some great golf played and at the end of the round Marty had put an end to Speedo Keene’s chances 2&1 with Pete Boyle continuing his steady side-armed way by dealing to the GM 3&2. So the NZDG 2007 Match Play Final was between Marty de Haas and the Grand Master from the King Country Pete Boyle. They were joined for the final round by Bob and Speedo Keene in the match for the bronze spot on the podium. That match was a little one sided till the last 4 holes with Speedo making a late run at Bob’s lead, after 18 it was all tied up but a replay of hole 18 saw Bob take third 1 up. The Battle for the silverware went to the wire as well with both Marty and Pete playing some great golf but when the dust settled Marty took the 2007 NZDG Match Play title 1 up.

Congratulations Marty de Haas, those secret Monte Cecilia practice sessions paid off, and well done to everyone who made the 2007 Redwoods NZ Match Play Event a huge success.

The 2007 NZDG Match Play field ahead of the competition getting under way on the Saturday morning, from 1 [Simon Feasey on the right] through to 16 [Tim McVitty on the left.

The NZDG 2007 Match Play Champ Martin de Haas celebrates with a bottle of bubbles. Nice skills Marty! Mini Marty the most consistent player in the park, on his way to capturing the 2007 NZ Match Play Title. David Keene an excitable boy as he fancies his chances against the defending title holder Simon Feasey. The Lost Tribe’s Pete Boyle takes a moment to reflect on his way to making the 2007 NZDG Match Play Final. His consistency saw him take 3 good wins and push the final to the last hole. Well done Marty! David Keene pushed Marty all the way but the NZ Masters Champ kept his cool to move forward to the final. Speedo Keene congratulates the GM for taking the match for 3rd.

Mario Cernier came all the way up from Christchurch to have a crack at the NZ Match Play Title only to be taken out in the first round by the steady Siep Van Vliet from Waiheke Island. Siep Van Vliet putts out hole 7 on his way to going down 5 & 4 to the Grand Master. Tauranga Golfer Dean Marshall on his way to taking out Brett Hailstone in the first round, only to be taken out himself in the second round by the eventual winner. Number 1 seed Simon Feasey on his way to going down on the 5th extra hole of the second round to a delighted David Keene. Ever the gentleman Simon Feasey congratulates the young up and comer David Keene on heading into the third round and a match against the GM. Pete Boyle deals to the GM 3 & 2 to take on Marty de Haas in the final. The GM Bob Gentil had his son Toby carrying the bag for the final 9 of the match for 3rd and 4th. It was a nervous time for the Marty Fan Club. Partner Deborah and daughter Maia followed proceedings round the final 9.

The lines of pines made placement crucial; here Marty, Pete and Speedo Keene take a look at what was between them and the basket.

Martin de Haas putts out 18 to take the Championship 1 up over the Lost Tribes Pete Boyle.  

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