Bay of Plenty made it a hattrick of wins in the Toro Interprovincials at the Manawatu Golf Club today.
They accounted for an impressive Canterbury combination 3½ to 1½ to claim their sixth victory in eight years. It took the Bay 50 years to etch their name on the trophy and they have dominated since.
This victory was special as the Bay blooded virtually a new and young combination, emerging after some of the country’s best young amateurs from the province moved to the paid ranks including Danny Lee and Josh Geary.
Only Ben Taylor had any Interprovincial experience, playing in last year’s winning team.
They were the only team to win every match with captain and debutante Kieran Muir said his side were spurred on by the Bay of Plenty players who have gone before them.
“There’s been a culture in the last few years and we have come through the same development as those players before us,” Muir said. “They’ve done really well and we have just fed off that.
“When the guys started winning six years ago, I was only 15 and wasn’t breaking 100. You see those guys winning and you want to be a part of it.
“You look at rugby teams like the Crusaders and when they bring young guys in they have the environment they know how to win. We have had success before us and we have been able to feed off that.”
Muir said while his team were inexperienced they had confidence about their chances.
“There were a lot of good teams here this week but we knew we had a realistic chance. It’s a long week and you have to play every match as it comes and you have to post the numbers on the board.
“It’s been an enjoyable and we have just tried to come out every day and have fun. That’s what our coach Jay Cater has tried to instil in us – this is what all the hard work and practice is for – to enjoy the occasion. It’s pretty emotional. And to win without a loss is special too.”
Muir was impressed by the standards on display this week, especially in the conditions with the first two days in the big wet and some fierce winds on the third day.
“It shows that New Zealand Golf is in a development stage but there’s plenty of good young talent there.”
The final was tight for the first 12 holes before Muir won four in five holes to beat Scott Fox 4 and 3, while Andrew Stewart, the country’s No 2 ranked amateur, made five birdies in beating 16-year-old Andrew Namkoong 4 and 3.
Murupara’s Landyn Edwards sealed the title with an 8m birdie putt on the 18th to beat Scott Ritchie 1up. Canterbury’s Shaun Jones beat Taylor 1up and Tom Turner halved with Bay’s Brad Kendall.
Canterbury can be well pleased with their week, making the finals for the first time in a decade.
Earlier Bay of Plenty came from behind to beat Wellington 3-2 in a repeat of last year’s final.
The key came at the top of the order between Stewart and fellow New Zealand representative Peter Spearman Burn. The pair were locked all square after 10 holes before Stewart won four in a row with two birdies and an eagle to secure the match and a place in the final.
Canterbury had a harder fight to overcome the favoured Auckland side, who made the semi-finals for the first time in five years. The key wins went to Fox, who came back from a white hot start by Fraser Wilkin to win 2 and 1, and to Jones who had to overcome a comeback by Ben Wallace to win on the last hole.
Auckland had their wins at the top of the order to Ryan Fox, the only player with a perfect record this week, and Gary John Hill.
Fox, with seven straight wins, was voted the Toro player of the tournament.
Results of the final day of the Toro Interprovincials at Manawatu Golf Club, Palmerston North today:
Semi-finals:
Bay of Plenty 3 Wellington 2 (BOP names first): Andrew Stewart bt Peter Spearman Burn 4 and 3, Bradley Kendall lost to Sean Kells 4 and 2, Ben Taylor lost to Haupai Puha 1 down, Kieran Muir bt Adam Church 2up, Landyn Edwards bt Richard Pegg 6 and 5.
Canterbury 3 Auckland 2 (Andrew Namkoong lost to Ryan Fox 2 and 1, Tom turner lost to Gary John Hill 2down, Shaun Jones bt Ben Wallace 2up, Scott Fox bt Fraser Wilkin 2 and 1, Scott Ritchie bt Jason Mann 4 and 3).
Finals:
Bay of Plenty 3 ½ Canterbury 1 ½ (Stewart bt Namkoong 4 and 3, Kendall and Turner square, Taylor lost to Jones 1 down, Muir bt Fox 4 and 3, Edwards bt Ritchie 1up).
Final placings: Bay of Plenty 1, Canterbury 2, Auckland 3, Wellington 4, Otago 5, Hawkes Bay 6, Tasman 7, North Harbour 8, Waikato 9, Southland 10, Manawatu Wanganui 11, Aorangi 12, Northland 13, Poverty Bay East Coast 14, Taranaki 15.
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