Golf: Long losing streak is finally over

By BOB PEARCE


Northland celebrated one of their great golfing days yesterday when they beat Auckland in the national interprovincial tournament.

It was the first time for more than 30 years that the boys from the north had beaten their Big City brothers in this tournament.

And while the golf varied in quality like the Hawkes Bay weather, the Northlanders thoroughly deserved their 3-2 victory.

After nine holes Northland supporters were starting to wonder if this was their day. Jeremy Hay, Dale Clarke and Michael Perrin were all ahead in their games and Richard Poole was square. Only Alex Tait was trailing, two down to Kevin Chun.

Poole went on to beat Matthew Cormack two up after the Aucklander lost a ball on the 17th, Perrin lost on the last to Chris Saunoa, but Hay, who missed two rounds with an injured back, beat Ross Valentine 3 and 1 and Clarke held on to defeat Logan Holzer one up when the Aucklander's birdie putt on the 18th stopped on the lip.

Tait had fought back to be square with Chun with four to play, but the New Zealand representative stopped the rot with a long putt on the 14th and went on to win.

Northland had lost to Canterbury in the morning and they have yet to have the bye, but with three wins from four matches they share the lead with last year's finalists, Bay of Plenty and Waikato, and the home team, Hawkes Bay.

Champions Bay of Plenty continue to look impressively efficient, though they were saved by their lower order in a 3-2 win over previously unbeaten Taranaki.

Jason McIntosh, Terry Hong and Jae An won comfortably. However, national representatives Josh Geary and Mark Smith were beaten.

Waikato had their reality check from Aorangi, but prevailed through their top order, Brad Shilton, Mark Purser and Mathew Holten.

Hawkes Bay kept their winning streak going, but with some speed wobbles in both rounds.

The 3-2 victory over Manawatu-Wanganui in the morning was in doubt until Norrie Culshaw came back from two down with four to play against Ewen Westergaard and won with a four-metre birdie putt on the last.

In the afternoon's 3 1/2-1 1/2 victory against Taranaki three of the games were decided on the last hole, with Hawkes Bay winning two of them. No 1 Doug Holloway shared the honours with Troy Ropiha, who is unbeaten so far.

The only No 1 players who have won all their games are Chun and North Harbour's Josh Carmichael.

The key game in the single round to be played today will match unbeaten Hawkes Bay and Bay of Plenty.

Historic win

* Northland 3 Auckland 2

* R. Poole bt M. Cormack 2 up

* M. Perrin lost to C. Saunoa 1 down

* J. Hay bt R. Valentine 3 and 1

* D. Clarke bt L. Holzer 1 up

* A. Tait lost to K. Chun 1 down