Golf: Bay amateurs look to finish on a high

Russell Mitchell's win helped Bay to their first victory.

It isn't in the same category as the jolt Wellington felt from Auckland yesterday but, needless to say, Hawke's Bay caused enough seismic movements on the golfing Richter scale to remind rivals not to pass them off as easy beats.

The Bay amateurs dashed Tasman's hopes of claiming the bragging rights to the annual Toro New Zealand Men's Interprovincial in Hamilton with a 3-2 victory in round five.

"On the day we were better, unlike other days when we weren't," top Bay seed Russell Mitchell said as teams played in the morning and had a compulsory bye in the afternoon at the Hamilton Golf Club course.

It was the Bay's first win at the tourney this week as they pulled themselves off the bottom of the division-one leaderboard, above Poverty Bay East Coast who have yet to register a win and play the David Howie-managed Bay this afternoon in the final round before tomorrow's playoffs.

"They are all pretty decent sides," a relieved Mitchell said but was mindful they have tripped against Poverty Bay in the tourney previously.

"Some of the guys are on a high today but we must have a focus on coming back to do the same thing all over again tomorrow."

Yesterday Mitchell overwhelmed Ryan Chisnall 4/3, Joshua Dasent beat Glen Drummond 2up and Steven Harris edged Tom Dasler 1up, after captain Ben Swinburne, who has yet to register a win this week, withdrew to give the younger players a taste of elite golf.

"Mitchell played very well to take out Ryan who is a New Zealand representative," Howie said.

"Steve and Josh did well because anything could have happened on the last hole."

Carlos Tawera, moving up one like everyone else did below Mitchell after Swinburne's withdrawal, lost to Blair Riordan 5/3 at No 2.

Dallas Williams went one down agonisingly to Nick Loach.

"All the other matches ended on the last hole so it wasn't very good for my nerves," Howie said.

Mitchell said Swinburne was very much the captain, talking him throughout the day on the course.

"We got a little tight towards the end," said the Maraenui club member said, adding his teammates didn't buckle under pressure as they did against North harbour on Wednesday.

In the biggest upset yesterday, Auckland spoilt Wellington's unblemished party with a 3-2 win.

Bay of Plenty, seven-time champions out of 11 years, and Manawatu-Wanganui have cemented their favouritism heading into the final two rounds.

BOP beat Southland 3.5-1.5 to all but secure their place in the final four from division two.