Golf: Auckland and Harbour unbeaten at provincials

Gary-John Hill. Photo / Northern Advocate

Auckland and North Harbour are the only unbeaten teams after four rounds at the men's interprovincial golf championships in Wellington.

Auckland lead division one after a half against Tasman yesterday morning before being pushed to edge out Taranaki 3-2 in the afternoon.

The villain and the hero was Srixon Academy player Gary-John Hill, who was penalised a shot for moving his ball marker on the final hole to lose his match and give Tasman the half.

In the afternoon he made amends by winning three of his last five holes to grab the key half with Aorangi's Steven Hayes, which ensured the Auckland win.

Also pivotal was No 1 and Eisenhower representative Ryan Fox, who won both his matches impressively.

Otago, with a win over Taranaki and a narrow loss to Waikato in the afternoon, are second on two wins, ahead of Manawatu Wanganui on a countback of games - but all eight teams in the section cannot be counted out.

Northland's No 1 Scott Wightman, originally ruled out with a stomach virus, was called to play when Brett Dorman wrenched his shoulder in the warm-up. Wightman fired four birdies and an eagle on the way to his win over Bay of Plenty's Brad Kendall.

The 2005 champions, North Harbour, lead division two with two wins and a half. Harbour earned a half against Canterbury after the experienced Scott Johnson holed out with a four-iron from 180m for a par on the 18th, while his opponent Mark O'Malley lipped out with a birdie putt from 3m.

Johnson got a most unlikely result and his team a crucial half.

Aorangi are second on two wins and 11 individual games, on countback from Wellington and Hawkes Bay, with only winless Poverty Bay out of the running.

Wellington, who lost on the opening day, edged Aorangi 3-2 with world amateur No 26 Ben Campbell winning two of his last three holes to grab victory. They went on to beat Poverty Bay easily in the afternoon to re-emerge as a threat.

Southland enjoyed a superb day, following their easy win over Poverty Bay, with an upset of South Island rivals Canterbury 3 to 1, with a key win to Jeremy Hall over the luckless O'Malley with a fine birdie on the last hole.

Today's single round looms as pivotal with key clashes between Wellington and North Harbour, Auckland and Otago.