PBEC to make history

FIRST-TIMER: Neil Hansen is attending his first national interprovincial golf tournament next week, and is certain to get game time. File picture by Paul Rickard

New Zealand golf history will be made by the country’s smallest province at the national interprovincial men’s tournament in Hastings next week.

When Pete Anderson strikes his opening shot for Poverty Bay-East Coast at the Bridge Pa course on Tuesday morning, he will take permanent ownership of a top-of-the-order feat.

It is understood Anderson will be the first golfer to play No.1 for his province at the Freyberg Masters (over-40s) and the national interprovincial in the same year.

While this has not been 100 percent confirmed, NZ Golf handicapping and golf services manager Phil Aickin told The Herald that they believe Anderson is the first.

Not only that, he will be doing it in his first national interprovincial.

Add to that another first for PBEC. Team reserve Neil Hansen is also attending his first national interprovincial and is certain to get game time over the week.

Anderson faces the toughest possible introduction to the highest level of New Zealand amateur golf.

At No.1 he is up against the cream of provincial crops — high-quality players from areas with vastly superior numbers and resources.

But that’s nothing new for the smallest province in the country.

Over the 68-year history of the week-long matchplay tournament, PBEC have fought and usually punched above their weight.

Long-time team manager Dave Keown expects nothing different this year as PBEC look to lift their ranking from last year’s 14th-place finish.

He has complete faith in Anderson at the top of the order — “on his day he can do it” — and plenty of confidence in those below him . . . with good reason.

In William Brown (No.2), Peter Kerekere (No.3) and Andrew Higham (No.5), PBEC have a wealth of national interprovincial experience.

Brown and Higham have played over 50 national interprovincial matches while recently married Kerekere is a seasoned campaigner and probably the form player of the squad.

Hukanui Brown, who had his first full national interprovincial last year, completes the top five at No.4.

Hansen has been brought in as a replacement for Anaru Reedy, who withdrew from the team with an elbow injury.

“It’s a blow not to have Ru (Reedy) there,” Keown said.

“He’s such a strong player. But you can’t take away a player who is injured . . . he made the call.”

Hansen, a member of Tolaga Bay, is a naturally gifted all-round sportsman. He has always had the potential to play at the national interprovincial but golf has been lower priority due to work and family commitments.

All six of this squad are long hitters. Their main challenge over the week is likely to be the short game.

Bridge Pa is famous for its slick greens and with excellent weather forecast, they are likely to get faster as the week progresses.

With that in mind, Keown said the team would be putting plenty of work into the short game tomorrow afternoon, which will be followed by a practice round on Monday.

PBEC start their campaign against Aorangi on Tuesday morning, followed by Auckland in the afternoon, Waikato and Wellington on Wednesday, Otago on Thursday and Southland on Friday morning.

A team win is an aim. Last year they had team halves against Bay of Plenty and Manawatu-Wanganui.