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Plenty of locals walked the Whakatane links in the beating afternoon sun to watch the 20-year-old against the wonder teen. She came up with some moments of magic before losing the match 1up at the last.
The result was already gone with Harbour’s Kristin Farrell, Julitta Lam and Rebekah Brownlee securing the points for the defending champions to go top of Division One.
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With their dominant win Harbour look favourites to be the first team to win back to back titles since the Bay of Plenty in 2006 – 2007.
“I played really solid on the front nine and so did Zoe so we were having a good battle,” said the 14-year-old Ko.
“I didn’t start the back nine too well. I tried to stay strong mental wise and that helped a lot. Zoe is a good player she is a former New Zealand rep and I am happy to have won with that pressure.
“Everyone wants to beat me and with every win – whoever I am playing – it adds to my confidence for the rest of the week.”
Earlier in the day Hawkes Bay enjoyed a memorable 3 - 2 win over last year’s finalists Waikato. Hawkes Bay number four Janie Field was proud of her team to upset their more fancied rivals.
“Who would’ve thought that a bunch of country bumpkins from the Hawkes Bay could beat the big team from Waikato?” said the 51-year-old Field, who came from behind to beat Hanna Seifert 1up.
“We knew we could do it and it is great to be unbeaten so far. We have a great bunch of girls and we have a lot of fun together.
“We spent yesterday afternoon for our bye down at the beach bodysurfing and having fun and we arrived at the course today really relaxed it was good fun.”
Waikato responded with a resounding 5 – 0 win over Otago to keep their title hopes alive while Hawkes Bay were beaten by Auckland soundly.
World Number Two Cecilia Cho continued her fine form to win 6 and 5 and 3 and 2 in her matches Auckland went about their business looking to make their first final since 2009.
“I played well, the thing I was happy with was I was bogey free this morning,” said the 17-year-old.
“It is a pretty easy course. It is playing quite short so if you get the putts going it is birdie, birdie, birdie.”
“I am looking forward to the semifinals and the final – I think we have a good team.”
Cho has only just returned home after winning her age group at the Aaron Baddeley Junior Invitational in China and losing in a playoff for the overall title.
“I enjoyed being back in China and I played well apart from the last day where I could have won the title but to win my age group was good.”
Her team mates Larissa Eruera enjoyed a comfortable 6 and 4 win to provide the necessary point to keep the 2009 champions unbeaten to be top of Division Two.
“We are having close matches but winning the ones we need to,” said Eruera.
“I went home last night and did some work on my putting and it helped – I felt like I was rolling the ball a lot better today.
The former New Zealand rep, who spent three years in Texas on a golf scholarship, is enjoying her return to the Toro Interprovincial tournament.
“It is weird,” said the Aviation member. “When I left I was the youngest in the team and now I am like the Grandma of the team. It’s good though because I feel like I have something to offer them and we talk about different
situations and my experience helps.
“We’ve got great depth in our team – we are six deep and we had 10 good players going for the six spots in qualifying so that has helped us get ready for this week.”
Wellington’s Julianne Alvarez helped her team bounce back from their loss against the Bay with a 3 ½ to 1 ½ win over Northland to keep their final chances alive.
“The Bay were really solid today but it was good to win this afternoon and now we have to make the most of tomorrow,” said the 15-year-old who won 6 and 5 against Kylie Jacoby.
“I was a bit nervous coming into the tournament as number one but I think I was more excited than nervous. I feel like I am ready for the step up and after my international experience this year playing some really top players I was
looking forward to that challenge.”
Speaking of a challenge she is looking forward to playing the best in the field tomorrow when the team from the capital takes on North Harbour.
“I have never played Lydia in match play before and we are really good friends so I can’t wait for that – it should be fun.”
Meantime at the other end of the age bracket Otago’s Liz McRae celebrated her own milestone today when she played her 100th match for the province.
McRae lost her match 4 and 3 to Auckland’s Wen Yung Keh but you couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as she reflected on a remarkable run that dates back to her debut in 1992 at Flaxmere.
“I am really proud of it actually,” said the 47-year-old.
“My first game seems like a long time ago now and over the years I have made some really special friends and have some great memories of playing in this tournament.
“I never thought I’d play 100 games – I am only filling in because our depth isn’t as good as some of the North Island provinces – but it is great to be here.
McRae hasn’t ruled out playing in more Interprovincials going forward.
“Well you never say never, we don’t have the depth so a call up is never too far away.”
Round Five Results
Taranaki 2 Manawatu / Wanganui 3
Rochelle Keegan lost to Stephanie McKillop 4/3, Nicole Keegan bt Kelly Nicholas 2up, Melissa Hill lost to Emma Clayton 7/5, Celeste McLean bt Keita Durie 2/1, Holly Winter lost to Brydie Hodge 4/3
Hawkes Bay PB 3 Waikato 2
Kate Chadwick bt Emily Perry 2up, Jaimie McIvor bt Chantelle Cassidy 4/2, Angela Jones lost to Sarah Bradley 2/1, Janie Field bt Hanna Seifert 1up, Lynne Roberts lost to Fai Tongdethsri 6/5
North Harbour 3 ½ Northland 1 1/2
Lydia Ko bt Kylie Jacoby 4/3, Kristin Farrell bt Racheal Williams 7/5, Julitta Lam bt Aroha Tito 1up, Faye-Amy Nickson halved with San Dangen, Rebekah Brownlee lost to Jo Wech 1up
Aorangi 2 Southland 3
Catherine Knight bt Robyn Pullar 6/4, Catherine Bell bt Angela Gerken 1up, Ginny Bolderston lost to Olivia Frost 1up, Barbara O’Connell lost to Anne Osment 3/2, Jenny Kellahan lost to Jenna Gainford 2up
Otago 2 Auckland 3
Laura Hoskin lost to Cecilia Cho 6/5, Jo Hicks-Beach bt Jesse Hamilton 5/4, Shani Arona bt Munchin Keh 3/2, Liz McRae lost to Wen Yung Keh 2/1, Susan Greig lost to Larissa Eruera 6/5
Bay of Plenty 4 Wellington 1
Zoe Brake bt Julianne Alvarez 1up, Susan Lines bt Lucy Davis 3/2, Grace Senior bt Te Rongopai Clay 4/2, Tyla Kingi lost to Imogen Donnelly Lawrence 2/1, Shelly McElroy bt Barbara Parreno 1up
Byes : Tasman & Canterbury
Round 6
Manawatu Wanganui 4 Tasman 1
Stephanie McKillop lost to Emily Stenhouse 1up, Kelly Nicholas bt Katrina Manaena 3/2, Emma Clayton bt Andrea Corbett 6/5, Keita Durie bt Clare Kydd 4/3, Brydie Hodge bt Emily Greenhough 2/1
Auckland 4 ½ Hawkes Bay ½
Cecilia Cho bt Kate Chadwick 3/2, Munchin Keh halved with Jamie McIvor, Wen Yung Keh bt Angela Jones 7/5, Larissa Eruera bt Janie Field 5/4, Celyn Khoo bt Lynne Roberts 9/8
Wellington 3 ½ Northland 1 ½
Julianne Alvarez bt Kylie Jacoby 6/5, Lucy Davis bt Rachael Williams 4/3, Te Rongopai Clay bt Aroha Tito 1 up, Imogen Donnelly Lawrence halved with Sam Dangen, Barbara Parreno lost to Jo Wech 1 up
Canterbury 3 Aorangi 2
Elisha Crosbie bt Catherine Knight 3/2, Jess Guenzerodt lost to Catherine Bell 2/1, Georgia Wayman lost to Ginny Bolderston 2/1, Sylvie Williams bt Jenny Kellahan 5/4, Jocelyn Blackmore bt Bev Green 6/5
Waikato 5 Otago 0
Emily Perry bt Laura Hoskin 1up, Chantelle Cassidy bt Jo Hicks-Beach 6/5, Sarah Bradley bt Shani Arona 3/2, Hanna Seifert bt Liz McRae 4/3, Fai Tongdethsri bt Susan Greig 2up
North Harbour 4 Bay of Plenty 1
Lydia Ko bt Zoe Brake 1up, Kristine Farrell bt Susan Lines 2up, Julitta Lam bt Grace Senior 3/2, Faye-Amy Nickson lost to Tyla Kingi 5/4, Rebekah Brownlee bt Shelly McElroy 6/5
Summary Cumulative Round 6 Thursday 07 December
2011 TORO New Zealand Women’s Interprovincial
Division One
Points / Games / District / * BYE
10 (20) North Harbour *
8 (16.5) Bay of Plenty *
8 (16) Wellington *
4 (15) Manawatu Wanganui
4 (12) Northland *
2 (7.5) Taranaki *
0 (3.5) Tasman *
Division Two
10 (20.5) Auckland *
8 (18.5) Waikato *
6 (12) Hawkes Bay PB *
4 (12) Canterbury *
4 (8) Southland *
3 (12) Otago *
1 (7.5) Aorangi
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