Team pin hopes on course

Northland No2 Brad Bonnington hopes that contesting the Garrard Shield at a familiar course like Waitangi can help his inter-provincial side match traditional foes Auckland this weekend.
Bonnington said his team are a better side than last season but still have a way to go if they want to compete against opponents like Auckland and Bay of Plenty.
"Hopefully, we can get some good solid results up there because we need to avenge what Auckland did to us in Ngaruawahia, when they beat us 7.5-0.5," he said.
Bonnington arrived in Waitangi yesterday to practise at the course and catch up with some family - something he can do at the same time.
"I always enjoyed Waitangi - I've always played very well there and I used to work on the course over the summer, because my uncle Alex is the pro up there, so hopefully I can find good form," he said.
A busy university schedule has meant it has been a while since he last played the course.
"I missed the Busby Plate up there a month ago because I had exams, so I haven't played it since they've made all the changes. I'm looking forward to it," he said.
He is optimistic the team can make inroads into closing the gap on Auckland, after Northland performed so well against Waikato in Ngaruawahia at their annual quadrangular tournament.
"We beat them [Waikato] 7-1 so hopefully we can build on that this weekend," he said.
Northland will have to reproduce that form in all three of their matches if they want to win the Garrard Shield.
After the three-round contest all three of the provincial teams name their line-ups for the Toro Men's Interprovincial to be held next month at Paraparaumu Beach.
Bonnington said the signs are good for the Northland side after an average showing last season.
"It was a bit hard last year after Gary [Hill] left to go to Auckland but having Scott [Wightman] back from North Harbour this year means there's a balance back in the the team and he and Brett [Dormer] have been playing quite well," he said
A couple of the juniors have pushed their way into the men's senior team for the Garrard Shield, which Bonnington thinks is a promising sign.
"Kadin [Neho] actually won the Busby Plate at Waitangi, and he's only 14 or so, and Sean Masters is another player who are both talents for the future," he said.
Bonnington is just easing his way back into golf for the summer after completing his masters degree in architecture.
"I haven't really sussed out a job yet, so I'm planning to concentrate on my golf over summer and apply for some jobs in the new year," he said.
Northland: Scott Wightman (Mangawhai), Brad Bonnington (Wellsford), Brett Dormer (Kaitaia), Lee Neuman (Northland), Michael McDonald (Northland), Sean Masters (Kaitaia), Kadin Neho (Northland), Gene Wintle (Waipu). Ralph Cup (junior) team is: Chase McKeown (Waipu), Thomas Neylon (Waipu), Kevin Kruse (Rawene), Luke Brown (Pines).