Auckland won the New Zealand women’s Interprovincials for a fourth year in a row, getting revenge on Manawatu/Whanganui in a tense final at Maraenui Golf Club in Napier.

And not only was it the fourth time in a row for victory in New Zealand’s premier teams’ event but the eighth win in the last 10 years.

In last month’s final, Auckland overcame a strong Manawatu/Whanganui team 3-2 after having lost to the same side in round robin play of the tournament.

The win also completed a double-double for the Auckland region after the Auckland men’s team had won the equivalent event in Hastings a week earlier.

The Manawatu/Whanganui side came out swinging in the final after defeating Bay of Plenty in a playoff in the semi-finals.

The team’s No 5 Lily Griffin raced out of the blocks with stellar golf on her front nine, jumping to a five up lead against Grace Jung.

This deficit would be too large for Jung to come back from, eventually succumbing to Griffin 5 and 4, giving Manawatu/Whanganui its first point on the board.

Angela Ju had been a rock all week for Auckland in the No 4 spot, going undefeated throughout pool play and winning her semi-final match.

Her performance in the final would be no different, beating Lisa Herbert 5 and 3 to get Auckland well back in the mix and level the contest at one apiece with three matches still out on the course. Ju also went undefeated throughout the tournament.

Auckland’s Carmen Lim would also get some revenge of her own in the No 3 match. Brydie Hodge had managed to mount an incredible comeback on Lim in their round robin fixture.

However, Lim proved to be too strong in the final, keeping her nose in front the entire match. She’d eventually win 4 and 2 to get Auckland’s second point on the board and within touching distance of the Interprovincial trophy.

That point would come from Auckland No 2, Fiona Xu. She overcame Zhou Yi Hu, who was running hot after defeating Bay of Plenty No 2 Jessica Green in a semi-final playoff to send Manawatu/Whanganui to the final. 

Xu proved too steady in the final, defeating Hu 3 and 2 to give Auckland the title.

Manawatu/Whanganui’s Tara Raj beat Vivian Lu in the top match to go undefeated for the week and win player of the tournament.

Auckland will look to defend its title this year at home, at Akarana Golf Club.

The men’s side will also look to defend at Whitford Park Golf Club.

RESULTS

Final
Auckland – Manawatu/Whanganui: Vivian Lu lost to Tara Raj 3/2, Fiona Xu def Zhou Yi Hu 3/2, Carmen Lim def Brydie Hodge 4/2, Angela Ju def Lisa Herbert 5/3, Grace Jung lost to Lily Griffin 5/4

Semi-finals
Manawatu/Whanganui 3 – Bay of Plenty 2: Tara Raj def Caitlin Maurice 5/3, Zhou Yi Hu def Jessica Green 19th hole, Brydie Hodge def Aroha Tito 2/1, Lisa Herbert lost to Taylor-Rose Perrett 3/2, Lily Griffin lost to Susan Short 5/4

Auckland 4 – North Harbour 1: Vivian Lu def Anna An 2up, Fiona Xu def Vaha Fapiano 6/5, Carmen Lim def Eunseo Choi 3/2, Angela Ju def Yeonsoo Son 5/4, Grace Jung lost to Danika Lee 1 down

Playoff for fifth
Wellington 3 – Canterbury 2: Darae Chung lost to Maddie May 1 down, Erika Cui lost to Amy Weng 5/4, Alanah Gullery def Olive Tapu 1up, Shontalia William def Melissa Newburn 5/4, Yewoo Hyun def Jasmine Clancy 3/2

Playoff for seventh
Waikato 4 – Aorangi 1: Zahraa Bester def Ginny Bolderston 5/3, Jill Morgan def Angela Gerken 4/2, Sarah Hancock def Catherine Knight 1 up, Robin Pellow lost to Lynda Brown 2 down, Sian Stevenson def Kathryn Baker 4/2

Playoff for ninth
Otago 3 – Northland 2: Sumin Kang def Shardae Bulkeley 1up, Danielle Bailey lost to Kylie Jacoby 1 down, Tracey Storer def Sjanna Bishop 3/2, Susan Greig lost to Jenny Peters 1 down, Amy Johns def Alayna Cox 2/1

Playoff for 11th
Tasman 4 – Hawkes Bay Poverty Bay 1: Lizzie Neale def Tessa McDonald 2/1, Eve Clarke def Janie Field 3/1, Emily Stenhouse def Clare Choi 2/1, Amber Boyce lost to Martha Manaena 5/4, Tracy Bary def Fiona Ellis 5/4