Golf: BoP's talent spread among interprovincial contenders

By BOB PEARCE

Bay of Plenty may never have won the interprovincial men's tournament, but they certainly provide a pool of talent for everyone else.

Next week at Sherwood Park in Whangarei, among the recent Bay stars with new loyalties will be the Wellington No 1 and No 3, Bradley Iles and Andrew McNair, and the Otago No 1, Nick Davey.

In addition, the Manawatu-Wanganui No 1, Craig van der Nagel, is from Te Puke and played in Bay junior teams.

And arguably the Bay's best player, Sam Hunt, will be at school in Rotorua concentrating on his examinations.

Even with those defections, the Bay's confidence has been boosted by lifting the Garrard Shield from Auckland for the first time for 30 years.

Their No 1, Mark Smith, a former North Island champion, has a point to prove after being overlooked for so long.

Wellington won the Tower-sponsored tournament last year in New Plymouth for the seventh time. Only Peter Smithson from that team returns and Richard Hislop, player of the tournament last time, will be a big loss.

In contrast, beaten finalists Hawkes Bay retain the same team in slightly different order. The under-rated Richard Squire is again at No 1, while at two is the talented left-hander Guy Penrose.

The beaten semifinalists at New Plymouth were Waikato and Otago, who had qualified first and second.

Brad Shilton, on the eve of turning professional, will play No 1 for Waikato, swapping places with Mathew Holten.

Davey will add strength at the top of the Otago order. Ben Gallie, who was No 1 last year, moves down to five.

Canterbury were fifth last time and will be without Eddie Lee. But John Williamson and Andrew Hobbs give them huge experience.

Hosts Northland have local knowledge on their side. Former national cricketer Alex Tait is proving a formidable No 1 and newcomer Dale Clarke shows promise.

North Harbour, eighth last year, have James Davis available at No 1 and have promoted young Andrew Park to two ahead of former national champion Chris Johns.

Auckland, who finished ninth, despite beating both eventual finalists, will be well served by Logan Holzer and Franz Schwanner at the top, but others have yet to prove themselves.

Competition starts on Tuesday. The top four teams on points meet in the semifinals on Saturday morning. The final will be that afternoon.