Tessa McDonald's week at Toro national women’s interprovincial

WINNERS ARE GRINNERS: A happy Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay No.5 Tessa McDonald after her win against Waikato at the Toro women’s national interprovincial in Ashburton. Gisborne golfer McDonald had two wins, two halves and three losses in her seven matches as HBPB finished ninth out of the 14 provinces. Picture by Joseph Johnson/www.bwmedia.co.nz

GISBORNE’S top female golfer is not sure what 2016 holds for her but she won’t forget the way she ended 2015.

A late call-up, a Lazarus-like comeback and a nasty case of strep throat made for a dramatic week of golf for Tessa McDonald at the Toro national women’s interprovincial.

McDonald was a member of the Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay team, who placed ninth out of the 14 provinces in the week-long teams’ matchplay tournament on the Ashburton course.

Playing at No.5 in the five-woman HBPB team, she finished with a record of two wins, two halves and three losses. One of those victories came against Waikato — 3 and 2 over Kelly Nicholas.

McDonald, studying teaching in Hamilton for the past two years, played for Waikato this year with the intention of making the interprovincial squad but just missed out on selection.

A disappointed McDonald headed home for the summer, helping out Poverty Bay Cricket and with the intention of returning to the fields for another season of maize detassling.

Just two days out from the interprovincial she was contacted by Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay after their reserve pulled out. Having played successfully for HBPB in the past, McDonald agreed to fill the spot.

“I was called in on the Thursday and had to leave (for Ashburton) on the Sunday.”

During the practice round on Monday, HBPB lost another player and McDonald found herself in the playing five for the entire week.

Not as ready as she hopedHaving put her golf a little on the backburner since returning home, McDonald was not as prepared as she would have hoped.

It took her a couple of rounds to get her swing going consistently. Both were losses (2 and 1 against Canterbury and 4 and 3 against Tasman), and she also went down in the third round against defending champions Auckland (2 and 1), but there were positive signs.

She broke the run of defeats against Waikato, saving HBPB from a whitewash in the process. Nothing was said about that somewhat ironic situation.

“She (opponent Kelly Nicholas) was really nice, so it made it a lot easier.”

Two days into the tournament, McDonald came down with a sore throat, which only got worse.

“I was pretty crook. I had a fever and I was vomiting.”

She hung tough, and was unbeaten in her final three rounds. She halved against Aorangi-South Canterbury, won against Southland after her opponent pulled out injured after four holes, then squared her match against Wellington in a 3½-1½ team win in the playoff for ninth.

Still suffering the affects of illness, McDonald rallied from 5-down after six holes against Wellington’s Glenn Hayward. She drew level on the 16th and the pair halved the last two holes. McDonald went to the doctor after the match.

“She took one look and said ‘that’s really bad’.”

McDonald was suffering from strep throat and was put on antibiotics. Looking back at the week, she was satisfied with her efforts.

“I was pretty solid considering I had not played much. It could have been better if had had a bit more practice.”

McDonald said she was feeling more positive about her golf after the interprovincial experience.

She intends to work over the holidays then return to Hamilton but is not sure whether she will get a job or resume her studies.