Mitchell Kale has won his second successive Bay of Plenty Golf Open following a fabulous play-off victory at the Whakatane Golf Club.

The Tauranga golfer came roaring home with a one under 69, while Glenn Solomann from Auckland made a three over 73, to see them both finish the four rounds tied at seven over.

The men’s championship provided drama right to the end with Golf New Zealand Academy member Kale mounting a stunning comeback across the final two rounds after he began seven shots adrift of Solomann.

Kale carded rounds of 68 and 69 across the final 36 holes to set the clubhouse lead. Solomann was right there, too, but a bogey at 16 left the door ajar, however, he responded superbly a couple of holes later.

In a big moment, Solomann nailed a clutch chip to bag a birdie on hole 18 and force a play-off.

The play-off saw both players hit pars on the first extra hole before Kale delivered the decisive blow on the second, holing a clutch birdie putt from the back of the green to secure back-to-back opens and a first North Island Stroke Play title. Solomann had to nail a difficult birdie attempt, which he was unable to do.

Kale was chuffed to win the title.

“It’s pretty cool,” he said. “I had a bit of time off with injury. This is my fourth tournament back, so it was good to feel under the gun again. I didn’t really have my best stuff at all, so it was good to get the win.”

He said the windy conditions across the three days were probably the hardest he had played in.

Finishing in third place, three shots back, was tournament regular James Golding from Omanu Golf Club. Cordell Henare from the Napier Golf Club was fourth, a further shot adrift, and fifth place went to Archie Thompson from the Pakuranga Golf Club.

Ōhope Beach Golf Links player Matt Purdy was the best of the local golfers finishing in 17th place after rounds of 73, 75, 72, 80 to finish 20 over par.

Whakatāne Golf Club’s Ben Peat was the next best, finishing in 51st place, while fellow Eastern Bay golfers  Jai Julian, Harry Sheaff, Ryan Anderson, Ryan Maxwell, Nick Hargreave and Tainui Morunga all missed the cut.

In the women’s section, Teresa Wang was a cut above all weekend, playing some sublime golf as she finished under par for the tournament.

“It feels pretty good,” Wang said after the win.

“I think I played okay despite the weather, because it was pretty windy. The course is pretty long for me, and when the wind picks up it gets even longer and really hard.”

Wang beat tournament regulars Faith Vui and Anya Apanui on her way to the crown.

Just 18 ladies contested the women’s field so only nine made the cut.

Next up for many of the men’s golfers is the Charles Tour, which has two events the Mount and Tauranga Open.