Golf: NZ junior women face daunting task

Australia will take a two-game lead over New Zealand into the final day of the junior Tasman Trophy women's international at Hutt Golf Club today.

They took big strides towards keeping the biennial trophy they have held since its inception in 1983 with a strong performance in the afternoon singles.

After winning one game each in the morning fourball competition, Australia were unbeaten in the afternoon, winning two singles and halving two.

New Zealand will realistically need to win both foursomes this morning to push for victory in the final four singles.

Rotorua's Penny Newbrook and Masterton's Amy Smith held on after a late charge to beat Australian champion Sarah-Jane Kenyon and Emma Stewart 1-up in their fourball match, but the Australians evened the contest with the New South Wales combination of Sarah Kemp and Polly Travica beating Wellington's Kyla Welsh and Aucklander Enu Chung 2 and 1.

Freshening northerly winds brought steady rain for the afternoon's reverse singles, with the Australians dominating at the top of the order.

Kenyon won the battle of the respective junior national champions over Newbrook, leading 4-up after four holes and holding off a mid-round challenge to win 4 and 3.

Australian No 2 Sarah Kemp was 3-up after seven holes against New Zealand No 1 Welsh, who reduced the deficit to one with six holes remaining. Kemp was one under the card over the next four holes to win 3 and 2.

Chung and Smith claimed the two halves. Chung fought back from 3-down with five to go to square with Mi Sun Cho, and Smith, 1-down with two remaining, birdied the 17th, then missed a 1m putt which would have given her victory.

- NZPA