McDonald, Ball at 1 and 2 for Bay

SPEARHEAD: Gisborne's Tessa McDonald is once again at No.1 for Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay at the national women's interprovincial tournament in the Bay of Plenty. Herald file picture

Gisborne's Tessa McDonald and Ellen Ball are top of the order for Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay at a historic women's national interprovincial tournament in the Bay of Plenty.

HBPB started their week-long matchplay campaign against Aorangi at Tauranga Golf Club this morning.

The men's and women's national interprovincials are being held jointly on two courses — Tauranga and Omanu.

For the first time in national interprovincials history, the men's and women's semifinals and finals will be played together — at Omanu on Saturday.

The Poverty Bay-East Coast men's team were in action this morning in their opener against Manawatu-Wanganui at the Omanu course.

McDonald is an experienced hand for HBPB at No.1 and has forged an impressive record at the national interprovincials.

She had an outstanding record of five wins and two losses at No.1 last year — both defeats on the 18th — as HBPB placed 10th.

For teenager Ball, who is at No.2 in the five-woman side, it is a significant step up. But she has also proved herself in the matchplay format and goes in with nothing to lose.

Following the Aorangi clash, HBPB were to face defending champions Wellington in the afternoon.

They switch tracks tomorrow to Omanu, where they face Canterbury in the morning and Taranaki in the afternoon.

They have a bye and a day off on Thursday, which features only one round, then return to Tauranga on Friday to play Manawatu-Wanganui and Otago.

The rest of the HBPB team are Hawke's Bay players — Martha Manaena, Kayla Van De Ven, Clare Choi, Fiona Ellis and Matekino Maxwell.

The PBEC men's team are spearheaded by William Brown, who led them to 14th overall last year with an individual record of five wins from six matches.

He is at No.1 this year, with experienced campaigner Andrew Higham at No.2, Dwayne Russell at No.3, Hukanui Brown at No.4, national interprovincial debutant Shayde Skudder at No.5 and Neil Hansen reserve.

Following the Man-Wang tie this morning, PBEC meet North Harbour in the afternoon.

Tomorrow they face Otago and Wellington at the Tauranga course then return to Omanu on Thursday to play Aorangi. On Friday they are back at Omanu, where they take on Bay of Plenty in the afternoon after a bye in the morning.

* As of late this morning, McDonald and Ball were well in control of their opening matches. Both were 5-up after 10 holes and HBPB were headed towards a comfortable team victory.