KEY POINTS:
Auckland's chances of ending their 12-year title drought in the men's interprovincial golf championship could be assessed as early as this morning's first-round clash with Wellington at the Mt Maunganui Golf Club.
Wellington won the title when the championship was last held at Mt Maunganui in 1992.
They failed to make the semifinals at the past two contests but have a well-balanced side this time with young stars Perry Hayman and Peter Spearman-Burn alongside the experienced Andrew Green, Shaun Richards and Richard Pegg.
Auckland have made the semis for the past two years, but must rely on an inexperienced line-up after eight of their players were ruled out of selection when they chose to play in an individual strokeplay event in preference to the annual team fixture against Wellington at Taupo.
The only survivor from last year's team is talented teenager Seve Ha, who will play at No 2 behind Van Wright, who learned his golf in Samoa before playing collegiate golf in Hawaii and later turning professional.
Hayden McCallum, Ben Kendall and Darren Gallot have seized the chance to play at this level and contesting the Garrard Shield on this course recently gives them an edge.
Champions Waikato, favourites Bay of Plenty and North Harbour, who won two years ago, all have byes in the first round.
In the afternoon Waikato play Northland, Bay of Plenty meet Southland and North Harbour should be too strong for minnows Poverty Bay.
