Shelley Duncan (Otago) and Gina Scott (Waikato) are old friends but yesterday afternoon became foes when the professionals coached opposing teams in the sixth round of the women's interprovincial at St Clair.
The pair played amateur golf together, representing New Zealand and then played professionally together in the United States.
Duncan is now the club professional at Balmacewen while Scott describes her role as ''a professional mother''.
Both players debuted in the national team tournament at the age of 15 - Duncan in 1982 on the Manukau course, and Scott six years later in New Plymouth.
Duncan competed in 13 interprovincial events and Scott played nine tournaments before joining the professional ranks.
Duncan's interprovincial run was interrupted when she took on a golf scholarship at Oklahoma Norman University from 1985 until 1989.
''As amateurs, we both played for New Zealand in the Commonwealth tournament in 1995 and in the Tasman Cup event against Australia the following year,'' Duncan said.
Their friendship really developed when they travelled together for more than three months playing Futures Tour events in the United States.
The highlight for Duncan was qualifying for the US Open in 1999, when Scott assisted by caddying for Duncan.
''It was 42degC with high humidity and it was great to have another Kiwi on board,'' Duncan said.
Duncan's best performance on tour was finishing third in the Green Mountain Country Club Classic in Vermont in 1998.
Scott was more successful in Europe, winning the Chart Hills Classic in England. She also finished within the top 15 on the European Order of Merit in each of the years she competed in Europe.
