But playing the best amateur golfers in the country - some of them could be described as “professional amateurs” - proved an unconquerable mountain, made even higher by a Wednesday weather episode long-serving team manager Dave Keown described as “the longest day of golf of my life”.
Tairāwhiti lost 5-0 to Northland, Canterbury, reigning champions Auckland, Otago and Manawatu Wanganui, and were beaten 4-1 by Waikato.
That one point made Keast a Tairāwhiti Golf hero, perhaps even legend, as the man who saved his province from six donuts.
“It was an incredible win,” Keown said. “His composure on the last few holes was just phenomenal. He really dug deep [and] it was really good golf that got him through.”
Keast said the overriding feeling when he sank a 3-foot putt on the 18th for a 1-up matchplay victory over Waikato No 3 Hunter Ussher was “probably relief”.
“We got off the duck,” he said somewhat appropriately as a former Poverty Bay representative cricket.
“That was our fifth round and we all knew we were still sitting on zero [team and individual points), so it was more relief for the team.”
There was never more than one hole between the pair.
“I was 1-down with three [holes] to play, won 16 and 17 with good strong pars and parred the last.”
Despite the heavy defeats, Keast, playing in his first national interprovincial at 42 years young, said it was “a great experience”.
“You can see that next level up [in] these top guys.
Keast drew parallels from his rep cricket days.
“You’d often go away as a rep team knowing [we] were coming up against first-class players and current Black Caps, and you lean into that and enjoy it.
“We came together as a team, enjoyed each other’s company - that’s the cool thing about it.”
Would he do it again?
“Absolutely. I just want to keep going, keep improving ... and that’s the sentiment of all the guys.”
Keown had nothing but praise for his team after “an unbelievably tough week”.
Several of Tairāwhiti’s top players were unavailable because of work and “these six guys put their hands up”.
Keown said their attitude, team camaraderie and behaviour over the week had been “fantastic”.
“They represented the district incredibly well in a situation which was tough.”
They were put to the ultimate test over Wednesday/Thursday when rain flooded the course and severely interrupted play.
Wednesday’s Round 3 tee-off was delayed by two hours and they did not tee off for Round 4 until 6.15pm.
“The last few hours were played in what one could call suspect conditions as far as light was concerned,” Keown said.
They had to finish their matches at 7am on Thursday morning, then play two more rounds.
“It was an extremely long day.”
Gray, 16 years old and by far the youngest in the side, fought hard without reward.
Keown said he came back a couple of times and “showed some grit”, and the experience would “be good for him in the future”.
Hindmarsh was promoted to No 1 against Manawatū Wanganui and had a great match before losing on the 18th.
He was 2-up on the back nine only for his opponent to go eagle, birdie in what Keown said proved “a huge momentum swing”.
He also made special mention of Devery, who played most matches in the unenviable No 1 position ... what some could call “the sacrificial lamb”.
“For a guy to step into No 1 and continue smiling and working and trying hard and keeping his spirits up in positions he was in ... he held his head high.
“All these guys were great under adversity.”
