A record sixth win in a row for Auckland women

Caption: Auckland team from left to right: Rebekah Blackwell-Chin, Chloe So, Caryn Khoo (captain with trophy), Vivian Lu, Grace Zhan. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.

Auckland has become the first district to win six New Zealand women’s Interprovincials in a row, defeating North Harbour at Omanu Golf Club in Tauranga.

Auckland had twice previously won five consecutive titles but never won a sixth until last month. Auckland didn’t play in last year’s event due to the covid-19 pandemic but had won the five previous district matchplay events.

After comfortably defeating Bay of Plenty in the semi-final in the morning, Auckland lined up against North Harbour for a classic battle of the bridge clash, which it won by a narrow margin of 3-2.

Auckland's middle order got the job done as No 4 Grace Zhan and No 3 Caryn Khoo both won 4 & 3, while the winning point came from No 2, Rebekah Blackwell-Chin, who defeated Amy Im 2 & 1.

Auckland co-captains Caryn Khoo and Vivian Lu said it was amazing to get across the line again, especially without one of their star players, Fiona Xu.

“We’re super relieved,’’ Caryn Khoo said.

``It’s been such a stressful week playing all the great teams here without our number two, Fiona Xu, who had to go home at the start of the week because of illness. We’re just all so proud of the way we came together as a team to get the job done.”

Lu said it was a credit to the association and all the supporters that gave so much time to the women’s game in Auckland.

“We’ve all been performing at a high level for a long time, and it’s nice to get back into the win column after missing out on the event last year. We’re all really good friends, so it was nice to win together as a team and prove Auckland is still a force to be reckoned with.

“This will also be my last interprovincial as I head to college next year, so it’s nice to finish on a high and get another victory for the province that I love.”

Caryn Khoo locked up the player of the tournament, winning eighth out of eight at No 1. The record of the tournament went to North Harbour’s No 1 Eunseo Choi, who went undefeated.

Next year’s event will be staged at Paraparaumu Beach and Waikanae in Wellington.