Golf: Northland clinch Masters title after 16 long years

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Northland staged an amazing comeback to claim the Diners Club Freyberg Masters title at the Waitangi Golf Club on Friday.

Defending champions Bay of Plenty had to settle for fifth, despite thrashing third-placed Aorangi 4-1 in the final round.

The hosts, who went into the final round trailing 10-time champions and favourite Auckland by half a team point, were given a huge opportunity when Auckland lost 3-2 to Waikato in the final round. Waikato won three of their matches against Auckland by 1 up, to deliver a body blow to their title hopes.

The Taniwha made the most of their chance and delivered a clutch 3-2 win over Canterbury to take the title for the second time and the first time in 16 years. "It feels fantastic," said Northland No3 Bob Shirley.

"It has been a few years trying to do this."

Results:

Diners Club Freyberg Masters Final Leaderboard:
7.5 (Team Points) 28 (Individual Points) Northland, 7 25.5 Auckland, 6 24.5 Aorangi, 5.5 25.5 Waikato, 5.5 23 Bay of Plenty, 4.5 21.5 Manawatu - Wanganui, 4 20 North Harbour, 4 19.5 Canterbury, 4 19 Southland, 3.5 22 Wellington, 3.5 18.5 Otago, 3 18 Taranaki, 1.5 15 Hawkes Bay, 0.5 13 Tasman, 0 7 Poverty Bay East Coast

Results final day Friday:
Round Eight:
Northland 3.5 Bay of Plenty 1.5
Saali Herewini bt Blair Murdock 7/6, Peter Bone halved with Justin Rasmussen, Bob Shirley bt Steve Heberley 1up, Scott Wilson bt Jason Madden 1up, Iain Power lost to Bryan Pirani 4/3

Round Nine:
Bay of Plenty 4 Aorangi 1
Blair Murdock halved with Jason Leary, Justin Rasmussen halved with Simon Wright, Steve Heberley bt Travis Cook 2/1, Jason Madden bt John Smitheran 2/1, Bryan Pirani bt Robbie Bell 2/1
North Harbour 3 Hawkes Bay 2
Rob Simmonds bt Nick Radonich 2/1, Rob Noffke bt Andy Patterson 2up, Stuart Nicholls lost to 3/2 Hugh Harrison, Mark Dawson lost to 3/1 Paul Beachen, Wayne Flintham bt Dave Shaw 3/2