Deep-end lessons for newbies

AWKWARD STANCE: Hukanui Brown plays out of a bunker during the Poverty Bay Open on the Awapuni Links course. Brown is playing No.1 for Poverty Bay-East Coast at the national interprovincial tournament on Auckland's Whitford Park course this week. His two losses on Day 1 included a 1-down result yesterday afternoon against defending champions Auckland. Picture by Paul Rickard

Welcome to the big league.

Poverty Bay-East Coast debutants Reef Pohatu and Dwayne Russell are on a learning curve at the men's national interprovincial golf tournament in Auckland, and their education started at the deep end yesterday.

PBEC lost 4-1 to Waikato and 5-0 to defending champions Auckland on Day 1 of the matchplay tournament on the Whitford Park course.

Their only individual point came from Auckland-based No.4 David Solomann, a member of Whitford Park and Waikohu golf clubs.

Solomann is an experienced player for PBEC at masters level and is the vice-president of Auckland Golf. He, Pohatu and Russell were making their national interprovincial debuts.

In the morning round, Solomann defeated Waikato's Logan Madden 5 and 4, while No.3 Pohatu was soundly beaten 7 and 5 by Sam Vincent and No.5 Russell lost 4 and 3 to Ben Slaven.

PBEC No.1 Hukanui Brown lost 6 and 5 to Charlie Smail and No.2 William Brown fell 4 and 3 to Jordan Woodall.

In the afternoon, Hukanui Brown lost 1-down to Jared Edwards, William Brown 3 and 1 to Jimmy Zheng, Pohatu 4 and 3 to Johnny Tynan, Solomann 5 and 4 to Jaeseung Na and Russell 5 and 4 to Joshua Leitch.

Russell was originally team reserve but was promoted to No.5 after Thomas Donovan withdrew for personal reasons.

Former professional rugby player Russell said he was only a couple over in his morning round but a poor front nine in the afternoon put him well behind and he “couldn't peg it back”.

Rotorua Boys' High student Pohatu knew he would face a formidable challenge but rather than be daunted by it, he is trying to embrace it.

In reaction to yesterday's defeats, the 17-year-old said: “I found out what I need to improve on tomorrow.”

PBEC team manager Dave Keown praised Pohatu for his efforts against Auckland.

“He lost the second hole but stayed 1-down through to the turn and hung in for a long time.”

Russell was “green” but took a lot from yesterday's experience, Keown said.

“He needs to play his own game and not be influenced by what his opposition is doing . . . stick with his game plan.”

Keown said that with PBEC playing no interprovincial quadrangulars these days, PBEC players — particularly the newbies — went in on the back foot compared with most, if not all, of their opposition.

“They have to learn it here. There's nowhere else to learn it.

“It's a totally different atmosphere.

“We're playing some class acts . . . but they can foot it with these guys. It's just a matter of not being overwhelmed.”

William Brown, playing in his 12th consecutive national interprovincial at just 27 years of age, described his play yesterday as “not too bad”.

He was a little unlucky against Auckland, losing his ball in trees on his 17th hole.

“He (Zheng) started par, birdie, birdie, birdie, so I was an early 3-down and it pretty much stayed that way for the remainder of the game.”

Hukanui Brown, at the top of the order, was a little disappointed with his play but felt he would “only get better”.

He was well beaten in the morning but in Round 2 fought back from 3-down to square the match before losing on the last.

Solomann immediately showed his value to the side, playing what he described as “solid” golf in his victory.

Play was delayed for over an hour in the afternoon because of heavy rain.

PBEC were to face Wellington this morning and North Harbour this afternoon.