Golf: Coach salutes effort in loss to Australia

By JULIE ASH

New Zealand coach Geoff Smart had nothing but praise for his team despite their loss to Australia on the third day of the Commonwealth women's tournament in Auckland yesterday.

Australia edged out the New Zealanders 4 points to 1 and look set to claim their third consecutive Commonwealth title.

"It was much closer than our last encounter with Australia in the Tasman Cup earlier this year where they gave us a big hiding," Smart said.

"So I am very pleased.

"At the beginning of the week I said I'd be really pleased if they beat one country and they have done that and they put up a good showing against Australia, who are tough competitors."

With the score tied at 1-all after the morning's foursomes competition it all came down to the singles where, unfortunately for the New Zealanders, the 16th hole seemed to be unlucky.

New Zealand's No 4, 16-year-old Jenny Park, found the going tough against 18-year-old Rochelle Miles.

Miles went 1 up on the first hole and never looked back, winning 6 and 5.

New Zealand No 3 Stacey Tate had a far closer encounter with Misun Cho.

The Australian held a narrow advantage in the early stages, but Tate fought back and gained the lead for the first time at the 10th holding it to the 12th.

Cho went 1 up at the 16th and 2 up at the 17th, which secured her the win, 2 and 1.

Fifteen-year-old Enu Chung had an equally tough battle with her opponent, Sarah-Jane Kenyon.

After an even start, the young New Zealander went 2 up at the ninth, but the Australian fought back and, like her team-mate Cho, managed to go 1 up at the 16th and 2 up at the 17th, to win 2 and 1.

In the battle of the No 1s, New Zealand's Sarah Nicholson landed a birdie on the last hole which squared her match against Sarah Kemp in what was also a fairly even contest.

"We tend to fall away through that last bit, the 16th, 17th and 18th," Smart said.

"There were a few poor choices out there.

"We have worked on a plan for that course and sticking to it ... Every time they deviate from it, it costs them."

In the other match played yesterday Great Britain and South Africa ended tied with three wins each.

New Zealand meet Great Britain today.

"They have had some pretty up-and-down results," said Smart. "But from their individual playing records we know they are pretty strong."