Southbound Northland golf team

They're up against the odds, but Waitangi Golf Club's Jack Winwood says the Northland men's team has the goods to produce a fine result at this week's Lion Foundation Freyberg Masters.
Winwood, along with Carrington's Bob Shirley, Mangawhai's Gavin Walsh, Whangarei's Alistair Nicholls, Scott Wilson of Kerikeri, and reserve/manager Barry Southgate make up the Northland contingent, who left for Invercargill yesterday .
Match play starts at Invercargill Golf Club's Otatara course on Monday, following tomorrow's official practice day.
At the same tournament held in Rotorua last year, Northland were half a point off reaching the semifinals, and played Southland for fifth and sixth place.
"We actually halved the game against Southland, but they had won more individual games during the tournament and took out fifth place ... this year will be a lot tougher though. Coming from Northland we are not used to the South Island's wintry conditions, plus the travel will be a factor," Winwood said.
The "tight, linksy" course would also provide a challenge for the Northland golfers.
"A few of our team have played down there before ... it is quite different to the Northland courses, which are mostly quite open - except the resort courses like Kauri Cliffs."
There was about 10-12 golfers who were vying for positions in this Northland side, and the players have been trialling since May, Winwood said. Once the team was confirmed, they have played together or against each other half a dozen times and were feeling well prepared, he said.
"Everyone in the team have done it before, we are all seasoned veterans without any rookies, so we know what to do."
Northland's No1 player Bob Shirley, 50, has not missed a tournament since turning 40 (when players become eligible to play in the Masters) and it is Winwood's fourth tournament.
Northland won the Freyberg Masters nine years ago, and they have not medalled since. However, Winwood and the Northland team hope to change that at the annual five day tournament.
"To come away with the spoils everyone has to be on their game this week ... but while the golf is very serious and we want a medal of some sort, the other attraction of this tournament is meeting up with old mates and golfers the same age as you. Masters golf is different to senior level - when seniors finish each day they keep practising after their round, where as when the Masters finish, we race to the 19th hole."
Northland face North Harbour and Waikato on Monday, Bay of Plenty on Tuesday, Poverty Bay East Coast on Wednesday, followed by Canterbury and Taranaki on Thursday.