Toro Women’s Interprovincial: Auckland wins 20th title
Auckland has extended its lead on the all-time wins list in the Toro Women’s Interprovincial after beating defending champions North Harbour 4 – 1 in the final today at the Whakatane Golf Club.
In what was a repeat of the dramatic 2009 final at The Grange in Auckland, the large gallery that walked the links of Whakatane hoped that the result would hinge on the final match between superstar teens Lydia Ko and Cecilia Cho.
It didn’t, as comprehensive wins to Larissa Eruera, Wen Yung Keh and Jesse Hamilton put the title for Interprovincial glory beyond reach.
The superior depth of Auckland, who went undefeated all week, came to the fore in the final to secure their 20th title in the competition. They extend their lead at the top of the standings to four wins ahead of Bay of Plenty.
Auckland number five Eruera, returning for her first Interprovincial in three years after studying on a golf scholarship in the States, got the 2009 champions off the perfect start when she beat Rebekah Brownlee 4 and 3.
Her team-mate Wen Yung Keh, who went undefeated all week playing number four for Auckland, followed suit with a 5 and 4 demolition of Harbour’s Faye-Amy Nickson.
The number two from Auckland Jesse Hamilton, who won the title for Auckland back in 2009 when she beat Nickson as a 14-year-old in the playoff, secured the win again with an impressive 4 and 3 win over Kristin Farrell.
Munchin Keh finished off the Auckland rout when she defeated Julitta Lam at the 17th.
Even though it had no bearing on the outcome the feature match between the World No.1 Ko and World No.2 Cho was brilliant golf to watch.
The pair, who met in the New Zealand Amateur Final for the youngest final in the championship history, enjoyed another classic battle which Ko won again but the result was already gone.
It was a case of déjà vu for North Harbour as they came up short to Auckland and missed the opportunity to be the first team to win back to back titles since Bay of Plenty in 2006 – 2007.
But Auckland could be proud of their week as they gave the perfect send off to their number one Cecilia Cho who plans to turn professional in March and attempt the join the Korean Tour.
Ko, who managed eight wins and a half at Whakatane to be undefeated after returning from wrist surgery, was awarded the Player of the Tournament honour.
In the earlier playoffs Hawkes Bay overcame Wellington to finish fifth, Northland halved with Otago but claimed 7th place as the higher ranked team, Canterbury defeated Manawatu Wanganui for ninth place, Southland claimed11th ahead of Taranaki and Aorangi finished in 13th ahead of Tasman.
But the 2011 Toro Women’s Interprovincial will be remembered for being an even where a gritty Auckland team dominated at the Whakatane Golf Club and won the title for a 20th time.
2011 TORO New Zealand Women’s Golf Interprovincial
Finals and Semi Finals – Saturday 10 December
Final
Auckland 4 North Harbour 1
Cecilia Cho lost to Lydia Ko 3 and 2, Jesse Hamilton bt Kristin Farrell 3 and 2, Munchin Keh bt Julitta Lam 2 and 1, Wen Yung Key bt Faye Amy Nickson 5 and 4, Larissa Eruera bt Rebekah Brownlee 4 and 3.
Semi Finals
North Harbour 4 Waikato 1
Lydia Ko bt Emily Perry 3 and 2, Kristin Farrell lost to Chantelle Cassidy 2 and 1, Julitta Lam bt Sarah Bradley 2 and 1, Kaye-Amy Nickson bt Hanna Seifert 4 and 3, Rebekah Brownlee bt Fai Tongdethsri 5/4
Auckland 4 Bay Of Plenty 1
Cecilia Cho bt Zoe Brake 6 and 5, Jesse Hamilton lost to Susan Lines 2 and 1, Munchin Keh bt Grace Senior 3 and 2, Wen Yung Keh bt Tyla Kingo 5 and 4, Larissa Eruera bt Shelly McElroy 5 and 3
Hawkes Bay 3 ½ Wellington 1 ½
Kate Chadwick halved with Julianne Alvarez, Jaimie McIvor bt Lucy Davis 1up, Anglea Jones lost to Te Rongopai Clay 3 and 2, Janie Field bt Imogen Donnelly Lawrence 6 and 5, Tessa McDonald bt Barbara Parreno 2up
Northland 2 1/2 Otago 2 1/2
Kylie Jacoby halved with Laura Hoskin, Rachael Williams lost to Jo Hicks-Beach 7 and 5, Aroha Tito bt Shani Arona 7 and 6, Jo Wech bt Liz McRae 4 and 3, Danielle Lowe lost to Susan Greig 9 and 7
Canterbury 3 1/2 Manawatu Wanganui 1 1/2
Elisha Crosbie bt Stephanie McKillop 2 and 1, Jess Guenzerodt halved with Kelly Nicholas, Sylvia Williams bt Emma Clayton 3 and 2, Jocelyn Blackmore bt Keita Durie 4 and 3, Zhantel Weeks lost to Brydie Hodge 2 and 1
Southland 4 Taranaki 1
Robyn Pullar lost to Rochelle Keegan 1up, Angela Gerkin bt Nicole Keegan 4 and 3 Olivia Frost bt Melissa Hill 3 and 2, Anne Osment bt Celeste Mclean 1up, Jenna Gainford bt Holly Winter 2up
Aorangi 3 ½ Tasman 1 1/2
Catherine Knight bt Emily Stenhouse 4 and 3, Catherine Bell bt Katrina Manaena 3 and 2, Ginny Bolderston halved with Andrea Corbet, Barbara O’Connell lost to Lesley Baxter 7 and 5, Jenny Kellahan bt Clare Kydd 2up
2011 Toro Women’s Interprovincial Final Standings
1. Auckland
2. North Harbour
3. Bay of Plenty
4. Waikato
5. Hawkes Bay
6. Wellington
7. Northland
8. Otago
9. Canterbury
10. Manawatu Wanganui
11. Southland
12. Taranaki
13. Aorangi
14. Tasman
