Otago had a rough morning followed by a wonderful afternoon yesterday at the New Zealand women’s interprovincial at the Timaru club.
A third straight loss, a 5-0 shellacking at the hands of powerful Wellington, was followed by a 3.5-1.5 win over Taranaki.
Otago No4 Abby Crawford played a starring role in the afternoon with a stunning recovery to beat Taranaki counterpart Joanne McDonald.
Crawford slumped to 5-down at the turn and the match looked set for an early finish, but she won the last five holes to seal a memorable 2-up win.
Otago No1 Sumin Kang, back on course after missing the opening day with school exam commitments, made a great start to her match against Celeste McLean. Kang was 5-up through nine holes and cruised to a 6 and 5 win.
Otago’s other win came from 13-year-old Yoonae Jeong, at No 2, who started in sizzling form to be 6-up at the turn against Tineka Kumeroa before winning 8 and 6.
Kathryn Baker had a titanic tussle with Debbie McCallum at No 3. Baker was 1-down through nine holes, won the 14th and 16th, but lost the final hole to halve the match.
Otago No5 Tracey Storer had a 4 and 3 loss.
In the morning, it was close to one-way traffic as Wellington flexed its muscle.
Crawford (lost 2 and 1) and Kang (lost 3 and 2) were the most competitive of the Otago golfers, while Jeong, Baker and Storer all had 6 and 5 losses.
Otago plays Manawatu-Whanganui today.
Women’s interprovincial
The scores
Morning: Waikato beat Aorangi 3-2, Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay beat Taranaki 3.5-1.5, Canterbury beat Northland 3.5-1.5, Bay of Plenty beat Manawatu-Whanganui 3-2, Wellington beat Otago 5-0.
Afternoon: Manawatu-Whanganui beat Wellington 3-2, Otago beat Taranaki 3.5-1.5, Canterbury beat Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay 3.5-1.5, Northland beat Tasman 3-2, Bay of Plenty beat Waikato 3-2.
- Hayden Meikle
