For the first time in 25 years, Auckland has won the 2019 New Zealand Men’s Interprovincial Championships by defeating Otago in dominant fashion in the final.
Auckland number three Johnny Tynan was the first to get a point on the board in the final on Saturday at Hastings Golf Club, carrying on the momentum he had from his morning round where he was required to go extra holes against Trent Munn from Manawatu/Wanganui to see who’d progress to the championship match.
He won his match 5/4 over Ben Patston to get his team on the board.
Then Auckland number four Kunaal Singh and number two Jang Hyun Lee went dormie up in their matches which meant Auckland had won the trophy.
Jang Hyun Lee put the icing on the cake rolling in a 25-foot birdie putt on the 16th to win his match 3/2, concluding an incredible match with Jonny Mackay with the first half they had in the match coming on their final hole.
With the victory all but sealed for the men from the city of sails, Auckland number one Jared Edwards holed a chip shot on the 17th to cap off a successful day for the Auckland outfit.
Auckland finally won the title 5-0 after finishing runner-up for the last two years.
Auckland captain Matt Cormack could not be happier with his team’s efforts.
“This honestly feels amazing. It’s a real honour to be associated with this group of guys and I’m so proud of our achievements this week,” Cormack explained after the victory.
“Hopefully this is some return for all of those that have invested so much in this group back home.
“The result this afternoon certainly didn’t reflect how tight things were out there in the final.
“The lads were making plenty of birdies and it was certainly nerve-racking watching what was happening.
“Seeing everyone’s faces when Eric holed that putt on 16 is something I’ll remember for a long time.
“That was a nice way to cap off the week. I think we deserve a few refreshments tonight,” said a grinning Cormack.
Jang Hyun Lee was awarded the player of the tournament going through the week undefeated.
Special mentions also went to Daniel Perham from Aorangi, and Matt Tautari from Southland for bringing up their 100th caps for their province.
Auckland gets to defend their New Zealand Men’s Interprovincial title at home in 2020 at Whitford Park.
Full Weekend results
Semi-Finals
Otago 3 v North Harbour 2 Inia Logan lost to James Hydes 5/4, Jonny Mackay def Kevin Koong 6/4, Ben Patston lost to Kit Bittle 2/1, Sungwoo Lee def Sung Jin Yeo 3/2, Jack Turner def Nathan Mayes 2/1
Auckland 2.5 Man/Wang 2.5 Jared Edwards lost to Tyler Wood 3/2, Jang Hyun Lee def Liam Finlayson 6/4, Johnny Tynan halved with Trent Munn*, Kunaal Singh lost to Tyler Hodge 1up, Josh Leitch def Regan McConaghty 6/5 *Johnny Tynan def Trent Munn on 19th hole for Auckland to advance.
Final
Auckland 5 Otago 0 Jared Edwards def Inia Logan 2/1, Jang Hyun Lee def Jonny Mackay 3/2, Johnny Tynan def Ben Patston 5/4, Kunaal Singh def Sungwoo Lee 1 up, Josh Leitch def Jack Turner 1up
