Family link to Moores' tournament victory

WARWICK SMITH/Manawatu Standard

BIG SWING: LawnMaster Golf Classic winner Douglas Moores in full flight yesterday.

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New Plymouth's Douglas Moores followed in his famous grandfather's footsteps when he won Manawatu-Wanganui Golf's biggest tournament at the Manawatu Golf Club yesterday.

Moores came from three shots off the pace heading into the fourth and final round yesterday to win the LawnMaster Classic by three shots, at five under par, in near perfect conditions.

Moores' grandfather Ted MacDougall always had a special place for the country's oldest golf club including a win in the 1957 New Zealand amateur championship.

"Pops always said the Manawatu club was his favourite course anywhere and he won plenty of times here," Moores said.

"He said it always set up well for him and it does for me as well – it's an excellent course."

MacDougall was later a professional at Mangawhai Heads in Northland.

Moores, 24, said it was a special moment yesterday when he sunk his final putt on the 18th to win as his grandfather had.

"I don't know what to think at the moment – it's pretty exciting for me to win here."

Moores has only begun playing golf seriously since finishing his business and fine arts degrees at Victoria University.

"We've shifted house at home and now live alongside the Ngamotu links.

"The first time I'd played Manawatu was last year at the interprovincial, but it was good not playing in the rain."

Moores is now trying to make his way as a full-time artist in New Plymouth.

Manawatu's Stu Smith did not rate his chances of winning after Saturday, when he was nine shots off the lead set by Waipukurau's Pieter Zwart.

But he fired a 66 yesterday morning, his best tournament round at Manawatu, to give himself a show.

Two under after nine put Smith one shot behind Moores, but missed putts and the odd errant shot meant he shot level par 72, finishing two under for the tournament and second with Zwart.

"I had a chance and let it go," Smith said. "I'm disappointed with my last nine when I put myself in with a show but missed a couple of putts and I made an error or two as well."

The women's tournament was disappointing with Peninsula's Courtney Manning taking the lead after the first round and going on to win by 10 shots (306) from Christchurch's Jess Guenzerodt, with Palmerston North youngster Maraea Durie third, five further shots back in the small 11- player field.

Men: 283: Douglas Moores (New Plymouth) 74, 69, 70, 70. 286: Stu Smith (Manawatu) 72, 76, 66, 72; Pieter Zwart (Waipukurau) 68, 71, 71, 76. 287: Sam An (Titirangi) 73, 73, 72, 69; Tyler Lock (Castlecliff) 71, 73, 69, 74. 288: Tyler Hodge (Levin) 76, 71, 68, 73.291: Josh Munn (Manawatu) 73, 77, 68, 73. Thomas Brockelsby (Royal Wellington) 72, 76, 74, 69. 292: Scott MacLean (New Plymouth) 71, 72, 72, 77. 295: Carl Lomas (Onga Onga) 75, 72, 74, 74.

Women: 306: Courtney Manning (Peninsula) 76, 78, 74, 78. 316: Jess Guenzerodt (Christchurch) 79, 84, 77, 76. 321: Maraea Durie (Palmerston North) 84, 76, 81, 80. 322: Caroline Scott (Wanganui) 80, 75, 82, 85. 323: Hayley Clinning (Manukau) 80, 84, 77, 82. 330: Emma Clayton (Manawatu) 83, 85, 81, 81.

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