Women's Toro Interprovincial - preview

Canterbury celebrates their semifinal win at the Women's Interprovincial Golf Championships. Photo / Supplied

The Womens Toro Interprovincial is finally upon us with fourteen teams from around New Zealand converging on Westown Golf Club to compete for the biggest prize in teams golf.

After an exciting week at the New Plymouth Golf Club where Wellington won the mens competition, we now pop down the road to see who can trump them all and take Canterburys place as the best of the best.

Canterbury ended Aucklands remarkable four-year winning streak at the Ashburton Golf Club last year and will be looking to start their own legacy with a strong outfit returning to defend their title.

The 2015 champions have arrived in Taranaki with a very similar side, with just the one important omission from last year with former number one Momoka Kobori unavailable after taking the opportunity to play college golf in the United States.

Fellow New Zealand representative Amelia Garvey will now lead the side and is excited about the challenge that comes with being the current holders of the Toro Interprovincial.

"Its so good and just cant wait to get started tomorrow. I think we are all enjoying coming back as defending champs and we are entering the week with confidence," said Garvey.

The current Muriwai Open champion knows what lies ahead and is ready for the challenge.

"Im sure there will be a couple of teams that will be out to beat us this week which is good and were up for the challenge."

Canterbury will have to get through many good sides this week if they are to repeat the feat but there will be no bigger threat than Auckland once again. They will be returning with vengeance as they look to get back to their winning ways after failing to qualify for the semi-finals last year and they certainly have the side to do it.

Recent New Zealand Amateur champion Rose Zheng will front as Aucklands number one and is clearly the form golfer in the field. Prior to the New Zealand Amateur, Zheng won her maiden Jennian Homes Charles Tour title at the Harewood Open to make it two victories in a row and will no doubt be wanting an Auckland one to add to her recent success.

"Its really exciting to be here and we are all wanting to work hard and try win again," said Zheng.

A huge sign of strength is having Munchin Keh in the number two position. She made the final against Zheng at the New Zealand Amateur proving she is back in form. Keh was also a part of Aucklands four-year dynasty and after being Aucklands number one in the past, she will be a very dangerous number two this week.

Her sister Siyi Keh, Brittney Dryland and Carmen Lim round out the five strong Auckland side that will be very tough to beat in Taranaki this week.

Last years semi-finalists Waikato, Bay of Plenty and North Harbour will be looking to repeat their efforts of Ashburton, however Waikato have lost key members in Brooke Hamilton and Hana-Rae Seifert which brings some new exciting talent to the fore. They will once again be led by Chantelle Cassidy who will need to record big wins and anchor her young side.

Bay of Plenty and North Harbour have small changes to their 2015 side, but expect them to be right in the running for a semi-final shootout in the weekend.

Wellington Golf is currently on a high and this young Wellington womens side has been inspired by the recent mens victory and will be dangerous with Gabrielle Palado featuring in the number one spot.

There are going to be some electrifying contests throughout the week and combined with the pure passion the women show, it wont be without drama. The first ball will be struck at 7:30am tomorrow morning at Westown Golf Club.

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Golf NZ