Golf: Deam debut for Napier EIT student

Sara Deam has won three of her five matches to date this week.

A little over five years ago Sara Deam was caddying for her golfing father Rob.

"I told Dad I could play better so he threw me one of his clubs and said have a go. Although he's left handed and I'm right handed that was my introduction to golf," Deam, the Hawke's Bay Poverty Bay women's team No5 at the Toro inter-provincials in Hamilton this week, recalled yesterday.

Soon after that intro Deam took up playing at the Napier club on a regular basis.

"My first goal was to try and beat Dad who plays off a 15 handicap. I did that three years ago and since then I've been trying to crack a berth in the Toro team which hasn't happened until this year," Deam explained.

The 23-year-old EIT Sport and Recreation course student who boasts a five handicap is making the most of her debut at this level with three wins from five matches.

"I'm pretty stoked. I just wanted one win so everything else from now on is a bonus," Deam said after a 2 and 1 win against Leanne Corbett during the HBPB team's draw with Manawatu-Wanganui yesterday afternoon which followed a 3-2 loss to Canterbury in the morning round.

She was anticipating a tough match with Bay of Plenty No5 Susan Lines in the HBPB team's only outing today.

"I've seen Susan at national Maori tournaments. She's pretty experienced so it will be a good battle."

Deam is keen to own a golf coaching clinic for women and children in the future.

HBPB manager Sue Sowerby was thrilled with the manner in which Deam and No4 Kathy Olsen of the Maraenui club recovered from losses against Canterbury to post wins against Manawatu-Wanganui.

"Sara recovered from being one down after four to beat Leanne Corbett 2 and 1 while Kathy was always up during a 4 and 2 win against Karen Manninen.

"It's been a memorable debut week for Sara ... as the No5 she is always the first one out and the first one to come home and that's always hard," Sowerby said.

HBPB No2 Jaimie McIvor of the Maraenui club recorded her first win of the week with a 3 and 2 victory against Canterbury's Catherine Bell. Napier's Chadwick, the HBPB No1, signed off the other win against the Cantabs with a 5 and 4 crushing of Elisha Crosbie.

Sowerby pointed out the Cantabs bottom three players who were "all up and coming" played to the card. Waipawa's HBPB No3 Lucy Owen suffered her first loss of the week, 5 and 4 against Amelia Garvey, Olsen lost 4 and 3 to Momoki Kobori and Deam lost 9 and 8 to Hillary O'Connor.

The United States-bound Owen finished all square with Manawatu-Wanganui's Amber-Rose Thompson-Newth. Chadwick and McIvor both carded 3 and 2 losses against Brydie Hodge and Emma Clayton respectively.

"It's disappointing we won't repeat our top three finish from last year," Sowerby said.

The result of the Bay of Plenty fixture will determine what position her troops play off for in the morning. All teams get a rest this afternoon.