McDonald ends on a winning high

Tessa Mcdonald.

She started the week with a win.

She finished the week with a win.

Gisborne's Tessa McDonald played a major part in Hawke's Bay-Poverty redeeming themselves at the national women's matchplay interprovincial tournament in Auckland.

HBPB fell just short in their playoff for sixth and seventh on the Akarana course on Saturday, losing 3-2 to Northland.

However, in placing seventh out of the 13 provinces, HBPB improved five spots on their disappointing 2019 performance as host province.

McDonald, at No.1 in the team, enjoyed one of her most successful interprovincials.

She ended the week with a record of five wins and two defeats.

Player of the tournament Vivian Lu of Auckland won six and lost two.

McDonald and No.4 Fiona Ellis provided the wins in HBPB's positional playoff.

It was the second time that week McDonald had beaten Northland No.1 Shardae Bulkeley.

HBPB had 3½ team wins over the week. They had a half against Northland to start the week, and beat Taranaki 4-1, Waikato 3-2 and Tasman 4-1.

Auckland won their fifth consecutive women's national interprovincial crown. They beat Canterbury 4½-½ in a one-sided final on Saturday afternoon.

The Aucklanders finished with a perfect team record of wins over the week.