Golf: Bay team's third big improvement + results

Bay of Plenty have finished third at the NZLGU Russell Grace Cup. Photo/Thinkstock

Bay of Plenty have finished third at the NZLGU Russell Grace Cup at Rotorua's Springfield Golf Club - 16 gross stableford points behind winners Southland.

The women from the deep south claimed the over-40 title for the fifth time in six years by seeing off second-placed Auckland by 14 points.

Bay of Plenty, looking to secure the Russell Grace Cup for the sixth time, started Sunday's final round in second place - nine points behind last year's runners-up Southland.

The team finished with 82 points and were delighted to improve markedly on their 11th placed finish last year.

Each of the four team members made telling contributions in a format in which the best three of four gross stableford scores counted per round.

Playing on her home course, Shelley McElroy had rounds of 34, 28, 32 and 26, Gloria Mayes produced scores of 25 (n/c), 27 (n/c), 29 and 28, Judy Cameron recorded totals of 26, 30, 25 (n/c) and 24 (n/c), with the fourth member Pip Lawson contributing 26, 27, 25 and 28 points.

Southland captain Robyn Boniface won the Canterbury Trophy as the leading individual for a record sixth time - three more than former Bay of Plenty representative Marnie Brooking who claimed the trophy in 1993, 1994 and 1999.

Boniface led the Southland charge with rounds of 34, 35, 36 and 35, followed by Robyn Pullar with 28, 32, 26 and 30. Pullar and Boniface were playing in their seventh Masters for Southland.

Kerry Mariu, who played once for Canterbury before switching to Southland four years ago, had rounds of 23 (n/c), 25, 23 (n/c) and 25. Fourth team member Fiona Murray contributed with rounds of 26, 24 (n/c), 23 and 24 (n/c).

The result means there is a three-way tie between Southland (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014), Canterbury (1992, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000) and Bay of Plenty (1997, 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2003) in the battle for the most prolific trophy winners.

The Bay team was playing in memory of long-time supporter, life member, golf administrator and rules official Brenda Milne, who died on Thursday.

NZLGU Russell Grace Cup

1st: 355: Southland; 88, 92, 85, 90 (2013, 2nd).

2nd: 341: Auckland; 86, 85, 81, 89 (2013, 5th).

3rd: 339: Bay of Plenty; 86, 85, 86, 82 (2013, 11th).

4th: 328: Waikato; 81, 81, 81, 85 (2013, 1st).

5th: 314: Canterbury; 77, 80, 78, 79 (2013, 8th).

6th: 313: Otago; 83, 78, 80, 72 (2013, 13th).

7th: 310: North Harbour; 75, 75, 78, 82 (2013, 7th).

8th: 308: Manawatu / Wanganui; 74, 73, 83, 78 (2013, 14th).

9th: 307: Taranaki; 85, 67, 77, 78 (2013, 3rd=).

10th: 305: Hawkes Bay / Poverty Bay; 81, 69, 83, 72 (2013, 3=).

11th: 300: Aorangi South Canterbury; 81, 76, 71, 72 (2013, 10th).

12th: 295: Northland; 71, 68, 77, 79 (2013, 12th).

13th: 286: Wellington; 78, 74, 66, 68 (2013, 9th).

14th: 278: Tasman; 65, 71, 77, 65 (2013, 6th).