Golf: James chips Auckland into semifinals

Leighton James is unbeaten at Titirangi. Picture / Richard Robinson

Leighton James was once again Auckland's golfing hero at Titirangi yesterday as they advanced to their first interprovincial semifinals for six years.

Making his debut in the national tournament at No 1, James, 21, delivered when Auckland needed him most in the last round of section play.

The young Auckland team knew they had to win two matches yesterday to have a chance. In the morning they beat Hawkes Bay with wins to Albert Kim, Fraser Wilkin, Jason Mann and James.

They teed off in the afternoon knowing that if Otago beat Aorangi 5-0, they would need to beat Taranaki at least 4-1 to progress to the semis. Kim, Matthew Laird and Mann duly delivered and the last game to finish was James' clash with Troy Ropiha.

James was three up at one stage but came to the last hole only one up. Both missed the par three from the tee. Ropiha chipped to 4m, but James put his bunker shot a metre away and the hole was conceded after Ropiha missed his putt.

Playing against some of the best amateurs in the country, James has had five wins and a half to be only one of three unbeaten players in section play.

This morning Auckland will play Waikato in one semifinal while defending champions Bay of Plenty will play North Harbour.

Harbour were beaten finalists at Whangarei three years ago but have never won the title.

They did the hard work yesterday morning when they inflicted Waikato's first loss in section play since 2000 at Otatara.

Scott Johnson, Steven Han and Dean Sipson won and in the afternoon Harbour completed a clean sweep against Northland to confirm their semifinal place.

Waikato knew they had to beat Wellington in the afternoon to confirm their seventh semifinal in a row and for a while the match was in the balance. James Gill won easily, Brendon Seidel won 3 and 2 and Mark Purser ended Brenden Stuart's unbeaten run 2 and 1.

Waikato No 5 Jim Cusdin protected his unbeaten record coming back from two down with two to play to snatch a half with Richard Pegg.

Cusdin sank a birdie putt from the fringe to be one down and then played a nerveless bunker shot to win the last with a par.

Bay of Plenty were never really troubled to beat Aorangi 3 and 2 and Hawkes Bay 3 1/2-1 1/2 though it was a surprise that national representative Josh Geary went down to Daniel Perham and Doug Holloway.

Danny Lee, 15, is the only player to have won all his games.