The Bream Bay Classic proved the perfect final hit out for Northland's top golfers as they head into the annual Great Northern Battle against North Harbour tomorrow at Mangawhai Golf Club.
Northland's representative golf teams were picked after the Classic, which is known as one of the region's biggest golfing events, with Golf Northland development manager Michael Macdonald adding it was a good chance for selectors to grab a final look at potential representative players.
Macdonald explained how last weekend's event proved a winner with players like James Dobson and Sheldon Kearns returning to play for Northland after having spent a few years overseas. "Sheldon [Kearns] plays out at Waipu and is a former Bay of Plenty representative golfer," Macdonald said. "He has come back to the game after six years away, [while] Jamie Dobson is a former Northland player who has come back from the States where he has been caddying."
Also returning to the Northland men's fold is Brad Bonnington who has returned from some time overseas. "It's an exciting team in terms of potential, but unknown in terms of how we'll go. There is no doubting we've been a bit short on experience in last few years [and] Brad has experience."
Meanwhile, in the women's representative team, Samantha Dangen said the side is fortunate to have carried over essentially the same as last year.
