Golf: Waikato carry semifinals key

Waikato today hold the key to the semifinalists in the interprovincial golf tournament at Titirangi.

Last year's beaten finalists, who have had an impressive unbeaten run so far, play their nearest challengers, North Harbour and Wellington, in the last two rounds of section play.

In the other section, defending champions Bay of Plenty, who have also not dropped a match, play Aorangi and Hawkes Bay. Hawkes Bay are second in the section at this stage but by only half a point from Manawatu-Wanganui and Taranaki.

North Harbour's cause was strengthened in the one round yesterday when they beat Poverty Bay 4 1/2 to 1/2 amid some late controversy. Redwood Park clubmates Ben Jujnovich and Joon Sang Chung continued their unbeaten run and Steven Han and Scott Johnson also won.

But No 1 Dean Sipson was two down with two to play to Micah Bremner, a member of the remote Mahia Club. On the 17th Sipson asked his caddy to take out the flag, but Bremner thought he had conceded his putt by telling him to take it.

When Bremner picked up his ball he incurred a one-shot penalty and lost the hole. Sipson won the last to gain a half, which might be useful to Harbour in a countback if today's results are close.

Wellington suffered the backlash from Canterbury's 5-0 drubbing by Waikato on Wednesday. The bottom three in the Canterbury order were always ahead and Andrew Searle won on the last green against the previously unbeaten Andrew Green. Wellington No 1 Brenden Stuart continued his perfect run.

Waikato, meanwhile, completed their second whitewash of the tournament against Southland with only James Gill having to play the last. They have dropped only 1 1/2 individual games in four rounds. No 1 Mark Purser eagled the par-four 10th, holing a wedge from 95m.

Bay of Plenty beat Taranaki 3-2. Young Danny Lee and international Josh Geary have perfect records.

Auckland still have a remote chance of making the semifinals if they can beat Hawkes Bay and Taranaki today. They were beaten 3 1/2 to 1 1/2 by Manawatu-Wanganui with only Albert Kim winning.

No 1 Leighton James retained his unbeaten record with a gutsy half against national representative Riki Kauika. James came to their last hole, the par-three seventh, still one adrift. James parred the hole while Kauika finally holed a 12m putt for a bogey.

The semifinals and final will be played tomorrow.