Auckland has pulled off a remarkable double by winning both the women’s and men’s New Zealand Interprovincial Championships after the women’s team defeated Manawatu/Wanganui in the final today.
It was the Auckland men’s team’s first victory in 25 years last weekend, today the women’s side made it their fourth win in as many years and their eighth victory in the past ten years.
The final played at the Maraenui Golf Club was tense right from the start after yesterday’s surprise victory by Manawatu/Wanganui over Auckland in the preliminary rounds.
The Manawatu/Wanganui side came out swinging after defeating Bay of Plenty in a playoff in the semi-finals to reach the big dance on Saturday afternoon. Number five Lily Griffin raced out of the blocks with stellar golf on her front nine, jumping to a 5up lead against Grace Jung.
This deficit would be too large for Jung to comeback from, eventually succumbing to Griffin 5&4, giving Manawatu/Wanganui their first point on the board.
Angela Ju has been a rock all week for Auckland in the number four spot, going undefeated throughout pool play and winning her semi-final match.
Her performance in the final would be no different, beating Lisa Herbert 5&3 to get Auckland well back in the mix and level the contest 1-1 with three matches still out on the course. She also went undefeated throughout the tournament.
Auckland’s Carmen Lim would also get some revenge of her own in the number three match. Brydie Hodge managed to mount an incredible comeback on Lim in their round-robin fixture, claiming a crucial point in their win on Friday.
However, Lim proved to be too strong in the final keeping her nose in front the entire match. She’d eventually win 4&2 to get Auckland’s second point on the board and within touching distance of an interprovincial trophy.
That point would come from Auckland number two, Fiona Xu.
She overcame Zhou Yi Hu who was running hot after defeating Bay of Plenty number two Jessica Green in a playoff to send Manawatu/Wanganui to the final. Xu proved too steady in the final, defeating Hu 3&2 to give Auckland their fourth title in a row.
Manawatu/Wanganui’s Tara Raj beat Vivian Lu in the top match to go undefeated for the entire week and deservedly wins player of the tournament.
Auckland will look to defend their title next year at home, at Akarana Golf Club while the men’s side will also look to defend at Whitford Park Golf Club.
Full details below.
FINAL
Auckland Manawatu Wanganui, Vivian Lu lost to Tara Raj 3/2, Fiona Xu def Zhou Yi Hu 3/2, Carmen Lim def Brydie Hodge 4/2, Angela Ju def Lisa Herbert 5/3, Grace Jung lost to Lily Griffin 5/4
Semi-Finals
Manawatu Wanganui 3 Bay of Plenty 2 Tara Ray def Caitlin Maurice 5/3, Zhou Yi Hu def Jessica Green 19th hole, Brydie Hodge def Aroha Tito 2/1, Lisa Herbert lost to Taylor-Rose Perrett 3/2, Lily Griffin lost to Susan Short 5/4
Auckland 4 North Harbour 1, Vivian Lu def Anna An 2up, Fiona Xu def Vaha Fapiano 6/5, Carmen Lim def Eunseo Choi 3/2, Angela Ju def Yeonsoo Son 5/4, Grace Jung lost to Danika Lee 1 down
