“A few bogeys, a few pars . . . good enough to win,” she said of her efforts.
No.3 Martha Manaena, No.4 Clare Choi and No.5 Aseri Miele also had wins while No.2 Janie Field lost 3 and 2.
North Harbour proved too strong for HBPB in the afternoon, running out 4½-½ victors.
McDonald lost 6 and 5 to Eunseo Choi — a match she always knew was going to be tough.
“I think I won one hole . . . that says a lot.”
HBPB No.5 Fiona Ellis saved the whitewash with a half.
McDonald said her energy levels were down in the afternoon and she was still coming to terms with “pretty tricky” greens that were undulating and “very quick”.
The team were “stoked” with their win over Taranaki and looking forward to today’s clash with Waikato, who are sitting bottom of the 13-province table.
A notable absentee from the HBPB support ranks was McDonald’s grandfather Cliff Poole, her regular caddie at this event.
That job has fallen to Poverty Bay clubmate Ellen Ball, originally named as the side’s non-travelling reserve.
HBPB went into today — a one-round day — in seventh place on 1½ team points and 9 individual points.
Canterbury and Auckland, who are looking for a fifth consecutive national title, were tied at the top with 3 team points and 15 individual wins apiece.
Bay of Plenty and North Harbour were third-equal on 3 and 13½, with Wellington (3, 12) just behind them.
