McDonald looking for fifth win at tourney

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

Gisborne golfer Tessa McDonald clocked up her fourth consecutive win but the run ended there at the women's national interprovincial tournament in Timaru yesterday.

McDonald, playing at No.1 in the Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay side, defeated Taylor-Rose Perrott on the 18th in a 3-2 team loss to Bay of Plenty in the morning.

However, five victories on the trot only just eluded her as McDonald was pipped 1-down by Manawatu-Wanganui star Tara Raj in the afternoon.

Manawatu-Wanganui won the tie 5-0 but that score did not reflect how tight the clash was. Three matches went to the 18th, one ended on the 17th and the other on the 16th.

McDonald's scalp made it a perfect six wins for Raj.

The point-less day, team-wise, dropped HBPB to 10th on the 11-province table.

They ended on 1½ team points and 10½ individual wins. Behind them were Taranaki, in stark contrast to their men's team who won the men's national interprovincial the previous week.

HBPB women's other win yesterday was provided by No.5 Kayla Van De Ven, a 2-up win against BoP.

HBPB were to be back in action this morning in a playoff for ninth and 10th against Aorangi.

The teams drew 2½-all in their Round 5 clash on Thursday. McDonald comfortably won her match in that tie and another win today would give her a record of five wins and two losses (both on 18) for the week — the same as last year's performance.

In this morning's semifinals, top qualifiers BoP were to face Canterbury while Waikato were up against Northland.

Missing from the tournament due to Covid-19 restrictions are Auckland and North Harbour. Auckland have won the past five national interprovincials.