Perfect start by ‘Huks’ at national interprovincial

Perfect start . . . Tairāwhiti No.3 Hukanui Brown won both his matches on the opening day of the men’s national interprovincial on the Paraparaumu Beach course yesterday. Tairāwhiti lost to Manawatū Wanganui and Taranaki. Picture by Paul Rickard

A two-from-two performance from Hukanui “Huks” Brown highlighted a historic opening day of the national interprovincial for Tairāwhiti men’s golf team yesterday.

Competing under a new banner for the first time at the national interprovincials after an association name change from Poverty Bay-East Coast, Tairāwhiti lost both their matches on the Paraparaumu Beach course at the teams’ matchplay tournament.

Tairāwhiti were beaten 3-2 by Manawatū Wanganui in the morning, then 4-1 by Taranaki in the afternoon.

Brown, at No.3 in the team, had a day to remember. He won both his matches — a 2-up victory over Man Wang’s Lio Vui, followed by a 2 and 1 defeat of Taranaki’s Joseph Doyle.

Tairāwhiti’s other individual point came from No.1 William Brown.

Playing in his 15th consecutive national interprovincials, Brown had a 3 and 1 win over Man Wang counterpart Ryan Rooney — an accomplished young player who top qualified at the Poverty Bay Open in March 2022 with the lowest 36-hole total in the history of the tournament — 7-under 137.

Teenager Zach Rolls, making his national interprovincial debut, turned in an admirable performance at No.4 in the five-man side before falling 2 and 1 to Mitchell Proctor.

No.2 Dan Collier, also in his first national interprovincial, lost 3 and 2 to Anthony Ilton-Maher while No.5 Shayde Skudder was beaten 4 and 2 by Regan McConaghy.

Taranaki proved too strong in the afternoon clash.

Other than Hukanui Brown’s match, the ’Naki’ players were comfortable victors.

William Brown lost 6 and 5 to  teenager Jack Van Prehn; Collier lost 5 and 4 to Brodie Ferguson; Rolls lost 5 and 3 to Andrew Searle; and Skudder lost 5 and 3 to James Smithson.

Tairāwhiti ended the day seventh in their eight-team section on zero team points and three match points. Northland trailed them but played only one team match yesterday.

The action shifted to the Waikanae course today. Tairāwhiti had a morning bye and face defending champions Bay of Plenty in the afternoon.

Gisborne golfer Tessa McDonald had a mixed opening day in the women’s national interprovincial on the Waikanae course.

Playing at No.2 in the Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay side, McDonald lost her Round 1 match 2 and 1 to Waikato in a 4½-½ team defeat.

No.5 Clare Choi saved the whitewash with a half.

McDonald and her team bounced back in Round 2 with a 3-2 win over Taranaki.

McDonald beat veteran Debbie McCallum 4 and 2, No.1 Kayla Van De Ven had a 2 and 1 win and No.3 Martha Manaena triumphed 1-up.

It put HBPB second in their section headed by Waikato.

The women were at the Paraparaumu Beach course today. They faced Northland this morning and have a bye in the afternoon.