Long wait over, Lavaki bags Huon Open

 MARGARET Lavaki displayed some precision golf to win the 2013 Plumtrade Huon Open.

After 56 holes over soggy three days last weekend, Lavaki tied with fellow Lae Golf Club member Eunice Parton, but the 19-year-old member of the PNG elite team snatched the winner in an extra three-hole play-off.

It was her first Huon title in five attempts and added to her Morobe Open title she won in April.

Lavaki had withstood a dogged challenge from Parton and playing under Riback Stevedoring’s sponsorship, carded 83, 82 and 88 and for net 73, 72 and 78. 

Despite leading by five strokes from Parton heading into the final day, wet conditions got the better of the Aihi and Gulf lass and she succumbed to her 88.

While she found the green in regulation with most of her approach shots, the wet and heavy conditions of the greens affected her putting and she lost her buffer.

This allowed the versatile Parton to even up.

 Both women had a par in the first play-off par- 4 10. 

On the second par-3, Lavaki won the hole with a par while Parton bogeyed and then Lavaki clinched the win in fine style with a birdie on the par-5 18th.

An elated Lavaki said she had a nervous last day and play-off and that she had not played competition golf since the PNG Open to concentrate on her school work.

Playing off a handicap of 10, Lavaki also won the best net score for the second day when she carded net 72.

Parton, was playing off nine.

Another PNG elite team member Shauvina Maras, 19 and playing off 10 from the Lae Golf Club, finished third.