Sam Marsters and Amy Han have played some of their Sunday-best golf to capture the North Island Stroke Play and Bay of Plenty Open this weekend.
Marsters (Mirimar) came from behind to beat Robby Turnbull (Remuera) by a shot after four rounds at Whakatane Golf Club, while Han (Titirangi) romped to a 12-shot victory, dominating the women's field to capture her first national title.
Marsters made it two victories in as many weeks, shooting 72, 70, 65, and 68 to finish five under and add to the North Island Age Groups title he already has in his mantelpiece.
After winning the Wellington Stroke Play last week, he channelled some of his winning energy today to get the job done.
Starting the final round two groups in and two shots behind Turnbull, Marsters reduced the difference to one with nine holes to play, after going out in even and Turnbull turning in one over.
The Wellingtonian turned the tournament on its head when he chipped in for a birdie on the par 3 14th to take sole possession of the lead after Turnbull dropped another shot.
Marsters birdied the 16th and parred his way home to post the clubhouse lead at five under.
Turnbull continued to fight and birdied the par 3 16th himself to get within one. After a par at the tough 17th, he needed a birdie on 18 to force extra holes.
His eight-foot putt slid by, crowning Marsters the 2022 North Island and Bay of Plenty Open Stroke Play champion.
He says it's a great feeling to win in consecutive weeks.
'It feels great. I won the Wellington Stroke Play last weekend, so to go away from home and win another national and district stroke play title feels amazing.
'I felt more comfortable coming from behind. I've had a couple of overnight leads going into the final round this year, and I felt freer and could attack much more, which meant I made more birdies out there today.
'This feels awesome; I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who helped me get here.”
Meanwhile, Han dominated the North Island and Bay of Plenty Women's Stroke Play, winning her first national championship by an astonishing 12 shots.
The Titirangi Golf Club member fired 74, 72, 71, and 72 to finish three-under-par, well clear of Rianne Li, her nearest rival.
She began the final day with a ten-shot lead and had one hand on the trophy after her two-under round this morning.
Avoiding disaster was all that was required this afternoon to get the job done, and she was able to do just that, making three birdies and three bogeys in her opening nine to turn in even.
Han's stellar golf continued into the back nine. She made back-to-back birdies at 11 and 12 and another at 17, with bogeys at 15 and 18.
Not even a bogey at the last was enough to wipe the smile off Han's face.
'I'm really honoured to win the Bay of Plenty Open and North Island Stroke Play. Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone who was involved in running this event, it was such a great week.
'All my hard work paid off. I'm really happy to win and I'll make sure I keep practising to improve my game so I can feel like this plenty more times in the future.”
Han wants to go away and work at her game, so she's ready to start playing in Jennian Homes Charles Tour events next year.
For full results:
North Island & Bay of Plenty Men's Stroke Play: https://www.golf.co.nz/tournament-detail?tournamentid=463&competitionid=874689&clubid=485
North Island & Bay of Plenty Women's Stroke Play: https://www.golf.co.nz/tournament-detail?tournamentid=463&competitionid=874690&clubid=485
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