Aiken Hakes claimed his 2nd NZ Open Championship title, defeating Edmund Fordyce in the best of three final, 0-26, 26tp-0, 26-10. In his 3rd Final appearance, Hakes credited his new Trimmer mallet for his more consistent hoop running and accurate rush shots to defeat the U21 GC World Champion. Fordyce himself has shown remarkable consistency this season in both codes, having reached the final of every event he has contested, including the NZ Open Doubles final he won earlier in the week with partner Greg Bryant.
Dunedin campaigner Chris Shilling reached the Open semi-finals, yet again, and took the first game against Hakes but couldn’t manage to close out the match for a place in the final. Taranaki Med student Felix Webby reached his first Open semi-final but on this occasion was unable to find a win against Fordyce. Shilling and Webby will look forward to the AC World Championship in Melbourne next month with confidence from their high finishing performances at this year’s Open.
Wellington’s rapidly rising young star Ali’i Posimani claimed the Heenan Plate in his first major AC tournament, defeating Antony Ritchie in three games, 26-18, 13-26, 26-16. After starting the event on a handicap 9 and reducing it to 4 by finals day, Posimani was a clearly deserving winner of the Charles Jones Encouragement Salver – awarded for the best tournament performance from players on handicaps scratch and above.
Harps Tahurangi and Michael Wright ensured a clean sweep of all 2020 singles titles for the Wellington Municipal Croquet Club in a Bronze medal playoff, Tahurangi winning 26-20,13-26, 26-13, and as if the cabinet was not already overflowing, Robbie Spooner took home the Open Doubles Plate trophy with partner Chris Shilling earlier in the week.Congratulations players and thank you to Tom Berryman and the Wellington Croquet Association for a very successful 2020 Open Championship.
