Golf: Auckland well-represented in semifinal

It's mate against mate for a place in today's final at the Honda Cup women's golf interprovincials at Mount Maunganui.

Defending champions Auckland have a showdown this morning with last year's bottom team Otago, whose fortunes were boosted with the arrival of three Aucklanders, Wendy and Angela Hawkes and Liz Aitken.

The Hawkes twins were members of last year's winning Auckland line-up at Kerikeri, and their clash with their former team-mates will also add considerable bite to the semifinal.

In the other semifinal, Wellington meet the in-form Manawatu-Wanganui, the only side to have won all six section matches.

Otago, who have never won the title, relaxed with the bye yesterday, while Auckland had to overcome fellow section leaders Waikato-King Country 4-1.

Auckland were given a flying start with former New Zealand representative Joanne Croskery recording her fifth sub-par round in dispatching Wiki Shailer 7 and 6.

Auckland were under threat after 12 holes but powered home impressively. La Nahi continued her unbeaten run, while the experienced Brigit Holford made a clutch birdie putt on the 17th for a 2-up win, with Rachel Mahoney and Kelly Pickett halving their games.

Croskery, returning to the representative scene after 18 months out of the game, believes Auckland have the right mix to repeat last year's victory.

"Although there are three players gone, this team is not that new with the right mix of youth and experience," said Croskery, playing her eighth inter-provincial.