The venerable king of Seniors golf in New Zealand, Rodney Barltrop has added another national title to his war chest in Mt Maunganui today.
Barltrop fired a two-under par 70 to finish on seven-under par 209 for 54 holes to win the New Zealand Seniors Championship at Omanu Golf Club.
The Royal Wellington club player finished seven shots clear of Auckland’s Arthur Parkin, the former hockey international, with a further shot back to his younger brother Michael Barltrop.
Titirangi’s Ken Hankin shared fourth place with Gulf Harbour’s Reginald Field on two-over par 218.
Barltrop was never seriously threatened today, playing the best golf under pressure with two birdies and two bogeys on the outward nine along with a superb seven pars and two birdies coming home.
His brother closed within three shots after nine holes but faltered with three bogeys in four holes at the start of the back nine. Parkin started slowly, fighting back from two early dropped shots for his one-over 73 today.
It was Barltrop’s fourth New Zealand Seniors crown, after winning in 1999, 2000 and 2004 to go with his three Australian titles and two Asia Pacific Seniors wins. The former New Zealand Amateur champion also led New Zealand to a commanding win in their Trans Tasman International last week in Christchurch.
Final leading scores, Omanu GC, par 72:
209 Rodney Barltrop (Royal Wellington) 68 71 70
216 Arthur Parkin (Maungakiekie) 69 74 73
217 Michael Barltrop (Royal Auckland) 72 71 74
218 Ken Hankin (Titirangi) 75 72 71, Reginald Fleet (Gulf Harbour) 74 71 73
219 Eric Brodie (Wairakei International) 75 73 71, John Sanders (Christchurch) 74 70 75, Frank Borren (Paraparaumu) 67 77 75
220 Wybo Veldman (Hamilton) 72 76 72, Michael Leitch (Maungakiekie) 75 72 73
221 Murray Brown (Russley) 74 75 72, Denis Dale (Australia) 73 75 73, David Izzard (Akarana) 76 71 74
222 John Small (Peninsula) 77 74 71, Phillip Hunter (Ngaruawahia) 76 72 74, John Batley (Titirangi) 76 71 75, David Wilkinson (Napier) 74 72 76, Tony Treen (Titirangi) 73 71 78
ROUND TWO REPORT:
Well known New Zealand senior Rodney Barltrop is poised ready to win another of his home country's senior amateur titles. The outstanding golfer has broken par on both days and sits five under par after 36 holes with a four stroke lead. His brother Michael shares second place with Arthur Parkin
The best placed Australians are Denis Dale (73-75) and Chris Coats (74-74) who are four over par on 148.
One of New Zealand golf’s most respected golfers Rodney Barltrop will take a four shot lead into tomorrow’s final round of the New Zealand Seniors Championship in Mt Maunganui. Barltrop (Royal Wellington) fired a one-under 71 today to move to five-under par 139 after two rounds at Omanu Golf Club.
He has a four shot advantage over his younger brother Michael Barltrop (Royal Auckland) and his fellow Aucklander Arthur Parkin (Maungakiekie). There’s a further shot back on even par 144 to first round leader Frank Borren (Paraparaumu) who could only manage a five-over 77 today, John Sanders (Christchurch) who fired the day’s low round of two-under 70, and Auckland’s Tony Treen (Titirangi),who managed a one-under 71.
Rodney Barltrop has won virtually every senior golf honour in the country and across the Tasman where he is a three-time Australian Senior champion. Earlier in the week he led the New Zealand team to an overwhelming victory over Australia in their Trans Tasman battle in Christchurch. Today he made three birdies with one dropped shot to turn two under before mixing two bogeys with a birdie coming home.
His brother had a steadier day mixing two early birdies with a solitary dropped shot at the 17th, while Parkin, who fired a two over 74, dropped six shots on the front nine before making a good recovery with four birdies on the back nine.
Despite brilliant fine and hot conditions to suit the visitors, the best of the Australians were Denis Dale and Chris Coats, who share 14th place nine shots off the lead.
Leading scores after round 2 NZ Seniors championship, Omanu GC, par 72:
139 Rodney Barltrop (Royal Wellington) 68 71
143 Arthur Parkin (Maungakiekie) 69 74, Michael Barltrop (Royal Auckland) 72 71
144 Frank Borren (Paraparaumu) 67 77, John Sanders (Christchurch) 74 70, Tony Treen (Titirangi) 73 71
145 Reginald Fleet (Gulf Harbour) 74 71
146 Adrian Campbell (Te Puke) 75 71, David Wilkinson (Napier) 74 72
147 John Batley (Titirangi) 76 71, David Izzard (Akarana) 76 71, Ken Hankin (Titirangi) 75 72, Michael Leitch (Maungakiekie) 75 72
148 Denis Dale (Australia) 73 75, Chris Coats (Australia) 74 74, Wybo Veldman (Hamilton) 72 76, , Barry Shannon (Wanganui) 74 74, Eric Brodie (Wairakei International) 75 73, Phillip Hunter (Ngaruawahia) 76 72
149 Ken Holyoake (Gulf Harbour) 74 75, Kenneth Dixon (Peninsula) 76 73, Owen Kendall (Mt.Maunganui) 76 73, Hugh Harrison (Takapau) 72 77, Murray Brown (Russley) 74 75
150 Tony Irvine (Australia) 75 75, Neale Pitches (Royal Wellington) 73 77
153 Grahame MacDonald (Australia) 72-81
154 Geoff Davey (Australia) 75-79Vince Clark (Australia) 75-82
ROUND ONE REPORT:
Three of the star New Zealand senior players who played a major role in defeating the Australian senior team earlier this week have continued their great form in the opening round of the 2010 New Zealand Seniors being played at the Omanu Golf Course.
Leading the way is Frank Borren with a fantastic score of five under par 67. A shot behind is Kiwi senior legend Rodney Barltrop on 68 while Arthur Parkin is just one stroke away after a fine 69.
This trio has already opened a gap on the field with Aussie Grahame Macdonald next in a group on even par 72. Fellow Aussies Denis Dale (73) and Chris Coats (74) are also making their presence felt but at this stage it does look like the winner will come from the leading three.
All the round one scores are available by clicking the 2010 Button above.
Kapiti Coast golfer Frank Borren fired a five-under par 67 to claim the lead after the first round of the New Zealand Seniors Championship in Mt Maunganui today. It has been a superb week for Borren, who played a key role in the New Zealand team’s outstanding victory over Australia in the Trans Tasman Seniors international in Christchurch earlier in the week.
The Paraparaumu Beach player made the most of the excellent scoring conditions at the Omanu Golf Club, posting an eagle and five birdies in his round. He has a one shot lead over the redoubtable Rodney Barltrop (Royal Wellington), with a further shot back to Auckland’s Arthur Parkin (Maungakiekie), all members of the winning Kiwi combination over Australia.
Barltrop’s young brother Michael Barltrop (Royal Auckland) shares fourth place with four players on even-par 72 including Waikato’s Wybo Veldman (Hamilton), Hawkes Bay’s Hugh Harrison (Takapau) and leading Australian Graham MacDonald, one of 10 competing from across the Tasman. Australian-based New Zealander David Burton (Nelson), the winner in the last two years, finds himself 10 shots off the pace after a five-over 77.
Borren started with an unexpected bogey at the straight forward first hole but made two birdies to turn at one-under. His move started with an eagle at the par-5 10th hole before dropping a shot at the 14th. He then turned up the heat with three birdies in a row for his five-under 67.
Rodney Barltrop, a three-time winner of the Australian Seniors title, made four birdies in his opening six holes on the way to his four-under 68, while Parkin made four birdies with one dropped shot in his 69.
Leading Round 1 scores (par 72) Aussies in bold.
67 Frank Borren
68 Rodney Barltrop
69 Arthur Parkin
72 Grahame MacDonald, Michael Barltrop, Wybo Veldman
Hugh Harrison
73 Denis Dale, Peter Wells, Neale Pitches, Tony Treen, Ken Thompson
74 Chris Coats, Murray Brown, John Rademakers, David Wilkinson
Reginald Fleet, Ken Holyoake, John Sanders, Barry Shannon
75 Vince Clark, Geoff Davey, Tony Irvine, Eric Brodie, Ken Hankin
David Headland, Michael Leitch, Ron Sisson, William Zimmerli
77 David Burton (defending champion)
