Golf: Interprovincial tourney wide open

The women's interprovincial teams golf tournament starting at Mt Maunganui today is shaping as the most competitive for two decades.

The two powerhouse provinces, Auckland and hosts Bay of Plenty-Thames Valley, have dominated the Honda Cup tournament, winning 31 of the 50 events, including 20 of the last 24.

Both teams come to Mt Maunganui with new-look teams, and neither may figure when the finals are decided on Saturday.

"It is probably the most open tournament in a number of years," New Zealand selector Anna Brabyn said.

"There could be any of eight teams capable of winning the tournament, and that's great for women's golf.

"It's good to have some new names on the block and it also signifies the growth of the sport in the women's ranks, especially among the young players."

Brabyn said the tournament also provided an important shakedown for members of the New Zealand team who will contest the Tasman Cup against Australia at Christchurch on November 6-7.

Defending champions Auckland have had a number of defections from the team which won at Kerikeri last year, with the Hawkes twins, Wendy and Angela, now living in Queenstown, while Rebecca Barrow is on scholarship in the United States.

Kelly Pickett, last year's No 5, has been promoted to No 1, and former New Zealand representative Joanna Croskery makes a return to the ranks.

Last year's runners-up, North Harbour, will be strong contenders, and are led by Anita Boon, who is in the New Zealand team for the Tasman Cup.

They have real depth, but there will be great interest in the 16-year-old Natalie Storck at No 5.

Bay of Plenty-Thames Valley have a new-look team without Renee Fowler, now a professional, Tina Howard, who is studying in the United States, and Brenda Ormsby, who has retired.

However, after their disappointing eighth last year and with a new team, there is little pressure on the side, who have just two players with previous experience in the tournament in Janine Carroll and Annette Almond.

Manawatu-Wanganui have not tasted success since 1970 but come to Mt Maunganui led by New Zealand team captain and world left-hand champion Lisa Aldridge and with Claire Dury at No 2.

Waikato-King Country are a powerful combination on paper, headed by the experienced Jan Storey, and have considerable depth, including the exciting Shannon Pawhau on debut at No 5.

Wellington have won the title five times, the last in 1992 in Christchurch. They have a young and exciting team headed by new national representative Hee-Jeong Chun, with the experience of Margot Oilver at No 2 and talented youngsters Sarah Nicholson and Claudia Scaife.

Canterbury have been strengthened with the addition of New Zealand representative Catherine Knight.

Otago, who finished last in Kerikeri, will no doubt move up the table considerably with the arrival of the Hawkes twins and with Liz Aitken at No 3.

Otago won the South Island quadrangular this year.

This year marks a new format for the matchplay competition, with round-robin in two sections from today to Friday, and with the top two from each section qualifying for semifinals and then finals on Saturday. - NZPA