New Zealand's leading golfers showed the way for their provinces on day two of the Women's Interprovincial tournament in glorious conditions at the Whakatane Golf Club today.
North Harbour were led by world No 1 amateur Lydia Ko who won 5 and 4 against Rochelle Keegan as the defending champions overcame Taranaki 3-2 to remain undefeated after four rounds.
"It was much better than yesterday,'' said the 14-year-old superstar who is showing no ill effects of wrist surgery.
"Our team has our rhythm going now and we are all playing well. We feel comfortable on this course and I think that our performance last year [winning the final] showed that we know how to win.''
Auckland were buoyed by the return of world No 2 Cecilia Cho who won showed no sign of jetlag after flying in from the Aaron Baddeley Junior Invitational in China. She won both of her matches and was well supported by Munchin Keh and Wen Yung Keh.
Cho defeated her Canterbury opponent Elisha Crosbie by 7 and 6 as the 2009 champions Auckland ground out a clutch 3-2 win over a strong rival and the rest of the team followed suit.
Waikato, the beaten finalists from 2010 at Miramar, showed their title credentials again on day two when they beat Southland 3-2 this afternoon.
New Zealand rep Emily Perry bounced back from her loss on day two to win 1up on the last against Robyn Pullar, and deliver the necessary final point.
Wellington's Julianne Alvarez, who has a great record at the event and made a fine international debut this year at the Astor Trophy, won comfortably, by 5 and 4 against Tasman's Emily Stenhouse.
The team from the capital, with wins from Te Rongopai Clay and Barbara Parreno, managed a 3 1/2 to a 1 1/2 win to keep pace with the leaders.
Another contest that received the lion's share of the local support was Bay of Plenty's match against Manawatu/Wanganui.
Bay No 1 Zoe Brake continued her dream run after returning from working in the Navy and delivered the crucial last point to win her match 2up and get her team home 3-2.
Brake, who has played only three golf tournaments all year, came home feeling confident and relaxed in her ability at home.
"I really enjoy playing the interprovincials and was really looking forward to coming home,'' the 20-year-old said.
"We had a practice round but I was just having fun because if I don't know this course well after 13 years of playing here then there is something wrong.
"It is really cool to go away and come back with a refreshed perspective. I am thoroughly enjoying my golf now after doing something different like the Navy, it has reminded me how much I love it.
"The Navy has taught me a lot _ we overcome a lot of crap in training _ so little things on the golf course don't worry me as much anymore.
"I'd love to play for New Zealand again and I want to do that next year.''
But for now the 2009 New Zealand Stroke Play champion is focused on the tournament at hand, and with all of the top teams firing it will make for a tense few days leading into the semifinals.
Brake has a showdown tomorrow with Ko that she is looking forward to.
There are five teams (North Harbour, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Wellington) all firing at the Whakatane Golf Club with one of the Bay, Harbour and Wellington all in Division Two and fighting for the top two places.
Round Three Results:
Wellington 3 bt Manawatu/Wanganui 2
Julianne Alvarez bt Stephanie McKillop 3/2, Lucy Davis bt Kelly Nicholas 5/4. Te Rongopai Clay bt Emma Clayton 2/1, Imogen Donnelly Lawrence lost to Keita Durie 3/2, Barbara Parreno lost to Brydie Hodge 2up
North Harbour 5 bt Tasman 0
Lydia Ko bt Emily Stenhouse 7/6, Kristin Farrell bt Katrina Manaena 7/6, Julitta Lam bt Andrea Corbet 3/2, Faye-Amy Nickson bt Lesley Baxter 5/4, Rebekah Brownlee bt Clare Kydd 2/1
Northland 4 bt Taranaki 1
Kylie Jacoby bt Rochelle Keegan 7/6, Racheal Williams bt Nicole Keegan 5/4, Aroha Tito bt Melissa Hill 4/3, San Dangen bt Celeste McLean 2/1, Jo Wech lost to Holly Winter 3/2
Byes : Bay of Plenty & Otago
Auckland 5 bt Aorangi-South Canterbury 0
Cecilia Cho bt Catherine Knight 2/1, Jesse Hamilton bt Catherine Bell 3/1, Munchin Keh bt Ginny Bolderston 6/4, Wen Yung Keh bt Barbara O'Connell 5/3. Larissa Eruera bt Jenny Kellahan 5/3
Waikato 3 bt Canterbury 2
Emily Perry bt Elisha Crosbie 4/3, Chantelle Cassidy lost to Jess Guenzerodt 1up, Sarah Bradley bt Georgia Wayman 5/4, Hanna Seifert bt Sylvie Williams 3/2, Fai Tongdethsri lost to Jocelyn Blackmore 2up
Hawkes Bay PB 3 1/2 bt Southland 1 1/2
Kate Chadwick bt Robyn Pullar 2/1, Jaimie McIvor halved with Angela Gerken, Angela Jones bt Olivia Frost 5/3, Janie Field bt Anne Osment 9/7. Lynne Roberts lost to Jenna Gainford 2/1
Round Four Results:
Otago 5 bt Aorangi-South Canterbury 0
Laura Hoskin bt Catherine Knight 1 up, Jo Hicks-Beach bt Catherine Bell 3/2, Shani Arona bt Ginny Bolderston 4/3, Liz McRae bt Barbara O'Connell 2 up, Susan Greig bt Jenny Kellahan 2 up
Bay of Plenty 3 bt Manawatu/Wanganui 2
Zoe Brake bt Stephanie McKillop 2 up, Susan Lines bt Kelly Nicholas 3/2, Grace Senior halved with Emma Clayton, Tyla Kingi halved with Keita Durie, Shelley McElroy lost to Brydie Hodge 5/3
Auckland 3 bt Canterbury 2
Cecila Cho bt Elisha Crosbie 7/6, Jesse Hamilton lost to Jess Guenzerodt 3/2, Munchin Keh bt Georgia Wayyman 3/1, Wen Ung Kim bt Sylvie Williams 1up, Larissa Eruera lost to Jocelyn Blackmore 1 up
Wellington 3 1/2 bt Tasman 1 1/2
Julianne Alvarez bt Emily Stenhouse 5/4, Lucy Davis halved with Katrina Manena, Te Rongopai Clay bt Lesley Baxter 6/4, Imogen Donnelly Lawrence lost to Clare Kydd 3/2, Barbara Parreno bt Emily Greenhough 1up
Waikato 4 1/2 bt Southland 1/2
Emily Perry bt Robyn Pullar 1 up, Chantelle Cassidy halved with Angela Gerkin, Sarah Bradley bt Olivia Frost 7/6, Hanna Seifert bt Anne Osment 5/3, Fai Tongdethsri bt Jenna Gainford 1 up
North Harbour 4 1/2 bt Taranaki 1/2
Lydia Ko bt Rochelle Keegan 5/4, Kristin Farrell bt Nicole Keegan 1 up, Julitta Lam bt Melissa Hill 7/6, Faye-Amy Nickson bt Celeste McLean 6/5, Rebekah Brownlee halved with Holly Winter
Leaderboard:
Division One
Points/Games/District/ * BYE
6 (12.5) North Harbour *
6 (11.5) Bay of Plenty *
6 (11.5) Wellington *
4 (8.5) Northland
2 (5.5) Taranaki
0 (8) Manawatu/Wanganui
0 (2.5) Tasman
Division Two
6 (13) Auckland *
6 (11.5) Waikato *
4 (8.5) Hawkes Bay-Poverty Bay *
3 (9.5) Otago *
2 (9) Canterbury
2 (5) Southland
1 (3.5) Aorangi-South Canterbury
