18-hole thriller for Gisborne's Tessa McDonald at women's national interprovincial

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Gisborne's Tessa McDonald teed off the women's national interprovincial in Timaru yesterday with an 18-hole thriller.

McDonald, playing at No.1 for Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay at the week-long matchplay tournament, was on the wrong end of the result as her team were beaten 4-1 by Northland.

The 25-year-old lost 1-down to Kylie Jacoby in a match that was tight all the way through, with no more than one hole separating the pair through progress points on the Timaru course.

HBPB's points came through two halves. Veteran Janie Field, at No.2, squared her match, as did No.5 Kayla Van De Den.

No.3 Kathy Olsen lost 3 and 2 while No.4 Martha Manaena went down 5 and 3.

HBPB had a bye in Round 1. They faced Taranaki and Canterbury today.

This year's national interprovincial features only 11 of the 13 provinces.

Auckland, who would have been gunning for a sixth consecutive crown, and North Harbour are not at the tournament due to Covid-19.