GOLF - Bon's sterling effort in vain as rivals progress

An eye-catching win by Caroline Bon over international Penny Smith highlighted the day, but two straight losses to Bay of Plenty and Auckland yesterday has all but sunk the Northland women's golf team in Napier.
Bon beat Smith handsomely, 4 and 3, in her most significant performance at the New Zealand inter-provincial golf tournament yet.
But her efforts were forlorn when it came to trying to push Northland into an unexpected top four play-off spot, places that are now all but set in stone after six rounds of the teams matchplay competition.
Their chances were virtually wiped out by the unheralded Manawatu-Rangitikei team that scored two unexpected wins yesterday, with the other spots looking likely to be snapped up by defending champions Bay of Plenty, Waikato and hosts Hawkes Bay-Poverty Bay combined.
The combined Manawatu team has a bye in the final round of section play today, but victory in the sixth round guaranteed them a place in the last four - a far cry from the 13th finish last year.
Northland are now playing for the minor placings, slightly miffed that they were ideally poised after the first day of competition but were undone by some difficult conditions on Wednesday.
Bay of Plenty look the most likely outfit while Waikato are also improving daily as the golfers get familiar with the conditions and the course.
Waikato, which had the bye this afternoon, tops the section on eight points, with Hawkes Bay-Poverty Bay on seven and Canterbury, North Harbour, and Southland all on six.
A lack of individual games won will count against Northland even if they account easily for Taranaki tomorrow.
Waikato opposes Hawkes Bay-Poverty Bay tomorrow with Canterbury against North Harbour, champion for three of the last five years.
The winner of the Canterbury and North Harbour match will hope Waikato beats the home team so it can leapfrog that team into second place.
• Standings.- Section one: Bay of Plenty 10 (21 1/2), Manawatu-Wanganui 10 (17 1/2), Auckland 6 (16), Northland 4 (11), Tasman 4 (9), Wellington 2 (9 1/2), South Canterbury 0 (5 1/2). Section two: Waikato 8 (17), Hawkes Bay-Poverty Bay 7 (15), Canterbury 6 (15 1/2), North Harbour 6 (15 1/2), Southland 6 (10 1/2), Taranaki 3 (9 1/2), Otago 0 (7).