Toro Women’s Interprovincial: Harbour shows class
North Harbour has underlined their Toro Women’s Interprovincial title credentials with an impressive 4 -1 win over one of the form teams Bay of Plenty in perfect conditions today at the Whakatane Golf Club.
It was a match that Bay of Plenty number one Zoe Brake had been looking forward to for some time and she almost delivered the fairytale result as she squared off with World Number One Lydia Ko on her home track.
Plenty of locals walked the Whakatane links in the beating afternoon sun to watch the 20-year-old against the wonder teen. She came up with some moments of magic before losing the match 1up at the last.
The result was already gone with Harbour’s Kristin Farrell, Julitta Lam and Rebekah Brownlee securing the points for the defending champions to go top of Division One.
With their dominant win Harbour look favourites to be the first team to win back to back titles since the Bay of Plenty in 2006 – 2007.
Earlier in the day Hawkes Bay enjoyed a memorable 3 – 2 win over last year’s finalists Waikato. Hawkes Bay number four Janie Field was proud of her team to upset their more fancied rivals.
Waikato responded with a resounding 5 – 0 win over Otago to keep their title hopes alive while Hawkes Bay were beaten by Auckland soundly.
World Number Two Cecilia Cho continued her fine form to win 6 and 5 and 3 and 2 in her matches Auckland went about their business looking to make their first final since 2009.
Cho has only just returned home after winning her age group at the Aaron Baddeley Junior Invitational in China and losing in a playoff for the overall title.
Her team mates Larissa Eruera enjoyed a comfortable 6 and 4 win to provide the necessary point to keep the 2009 champions unbeaten to be top of Division Two.
The former New Zealand rep, who spent three years in Texas on a golf scholarship, is enjoying her return to the Toro Interprovincial tournament.
Wellington’s Julianne Alvarez helped her team bounce back from their loss against the Bay with a 3 ½ to 1 ½ win over Northland to keep their final chances alive.
Meantime at the other end of the age bracket Otago’s Liz McRae celebrated her own milestone today when she played her 100th match for the province.
McRae lost her match 4 and 3 to Auckland’s Wen Yung Keh but you couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as she reflected on a remarkable run that dates back to her debut in 1992 at Flaxmere.
McRae hasn’t ruled out playing in more Interprovincials going forward.
Round Five Results
Taranaki 2 Manawatu / Wanganui 3
Rochelle Keegan lost to Stephanie McKillop 4/3, Nicole Keegan bt Kelly Nicholas 2up, Melissa Hill lost to Emma Clayton 7/5, Celeste McLean bt Keita Durie 2/1, Holly Winter lost to Brydie Hodge 4/3
Hawkes Bay PB 3 Waikato 2
Kate Chadwick bt Emily Perry 2up, Jaimie McIvor bt Chantelle Cassidy 4/2, Angela Jones lost to Sarah Bradley 2/1, Janie Field bt Hanna Seifert 1up, Lynne Roberts lost to Fai Tongdethsri 6/5
North Harbour 3 ½ Northland 1 1/2
Lydia Ko bt Kylie Jacoby 4/3, Kristin Farrell bt Racheal Williams 7/5, Julitta Lam bt Aroha Tito 1up, Faye-Amy Nickson halved with San Dangen, Rebekah Brownlee lost to Jo Wech 1up
Aorangi 2 Southland 3
Catherine Knight bt Robyn Pullar 6/4, Catherine Bell bt Angela Gerken 1up, Ginny Bolderston lost to Olivia Frost 1up, Barbara O’Connell lost to Anne Osment 3/2, Jenny Kellahan lost to Jenna Gainford 2up
Otago 2 Auckland 3
Laura Hoskin lost to Cecilia Cho 6/5, Jo Hicks-Beach bt Jesse Hamilton 5/4, Shani Arona bt Munchin Keh 3/2, Liz McRae lost to Wen Yung Keh 2/1, Susan Greig lost to Larissa Eruera 6/5
Bay of Plenty 4 Wellington 1
Zoe Brake bt Julianne Alvarez 1up, Susan Lines bt Lucy Davis 3/2, Grace Senior bt Te Rongopai Clay 4/2, Tyla Kingi lost to Imogen Donnelly Lawrence 2/1, Shelly McElroy bt Barbara Parreno 1up
Byes : Tasman & Canterbury
Round 6
Manawatu Wanganui 4 Tasman 1
Stephanie McKillop lost to Emily Stenhouse 1up, Kelly Nicholas bt Katrina Manaena 3/2, Emma Clayton bt Andrea Corbett 6/5, Keita Durie bt Clare Kydd 4/3, Brydie Hodge bt Emily Greenhough 2/1
Auckland 4 ½ Hawkes Bay ½
Cecilia Cho bt Kate Chadwick 3/2, Munchin Keh halved with Jamie McIvor, Wen Yung Keh bt Angela Jones 7/5, Larissa Eruera bt Janie Field 5/4, Celyn Khoo bt Lynne Roberts 9/8
Wellington 3 ½ Northland 1 ½
Julianne Alvarez bt Kylie Jacoby 6/5, Lucy Davis bt Rachael Williams 4/3, Te Rongopai Clay bt Aroha Tito 1 up, Imogen Donnelly Lawrence halved with Sam Dangen, Barbara Parreno lost to Jo Wech 1 up
Canterbury 3 Aorangi 2
Elisha Crosbie bt Catherine Knight 3/2, Jess Guenzerodt lost to Catherine Bell 2/1, Georgia Wayman lost to Ginny Bolderston 2/1, Sylvie Williams bt Jenny Kellahan 5/4, Jocelyn Blackmore bt Bev Green 6/5
Waikato 5 Otago 0
Emily Perry bt Laura Hoskin 1up, Chantelle Cassidy bt Jo Hicks-Beach 6/5, Sarah Bradley bt Shani Arona 3/2, Hanna Seifert bt Liz McRae 4/3, Fai Tongdethsri bt Susan Greig 2up
North Harbour 4 Bay of Plenty 1
Lydia Ko bt Zoe Brake 1up, Kristine Farrell bt Susan Lines 2up, Julitta Lam bt Grace Senior 3/2, Faye-Amy Nickson lost to Tyla Kingi 5/4, Rebekah Brownlee bt Shelly McElroy 6/5
Summary Cumulative Round 6 Thursday 07 December
Division One
Points / Games / District / * BYE
10 (20) North Harbour *
8 (16.5) Bay of Plenty *
8 (16) Wellington *
4 (15) Manawatu Wanganui
4 (12) Northland *
2 (7.5) Taranaki *
0 (3.5) Tasman *
Division Two
10 (20.5) Auckland *
8 (18.5) Waikato *
6 (12) Hawkes Bay PB *
4 (12) Canterbury *
4 (8) Southland *
3 (12) Otago *
1 (7.5) Aorangi
