Golf: Winning double 'quite a relief'

HBPB women golfers Janice Roberts (chef de mission), Kathy Olsen, Lucy Owen, Jamie McIvor, Kate Chadwick, Sara Deam and manager Sue Sowerby. Photo/Russell Burns

It can be anxious moments in any team sport when victory becomes increasingly elusive in a competition.

A sense of camaraderie prevails when a win is realised as individualism gives way to building a foundation that strengthens those bonds.

The Hawke's Bay Poverty Bay women experienced such emotions after the team notched two wins at the Toro New Zealand Women's Interprovincials in Hamilton yesterday.

"It was a bit of a relief today," top seed Kate Chadwick said last night after the emphatic results that ensure they remain on track to make the playoffs in the country's elite amateur matchplay tournament.

HBPB beat Aorangi South Canterbury 3-2 in the morning, before reloading to repeat a similar dose to Taranaki in the afternoon at the Riverside Golf Club.

The Sue Sowerby-managed HBPB lost 4-1 to hosts Waikato on day one but had a bye to dwell on how to turn their fortunes around.

"It was very good. Sara at No5 really pulled through in the morning," Chadwick said of Sara Deam who crushed Aorangi counterpart Pauline Bell 5 and 4.

Chadwick was equally convincing against Catherine Knight, 4 and 3, while Hastings Girls High School student Lucy Owen, at No3, kept her unblemished record with a don't-argue 5 and 3 against Ginny Bolderston.

No2 Jamie McIvor lost heavily, 5 and 4, to Nicole Nathan while No4 Kathy Olsen went 2 down fighting against Nicole Hamilton-Cross.

But it was veteran Olsen's turn to shrug off the monkey from HBPB's back in the afternoon against Taranaki as she beat Tyler Winter 1 up.

Red-hot Owen soldiered on 4 and 2 against Rochelle Keegan while Deam took care of Joanne McDonald, 3 and 2.

"It's Sara's first interprovincials but she's been in the [rep] team before," said Chadwick of the 23-year-old fellow Napier Golf Club member.

Celeste McLean pipped Chadwick 2 and 1, while McIvor was on the receiving end of Holly Winter's 5 and 4 serving.

Chadwick said McIvor, of Maraenui Golf Club, would have her day before the week ends.

"That why we call it a team. She'll have our back soon because she's just warming up," the nurse said of her teammate.

HBPB play Canterbury this morning and neighbours Manawatu/Wanganui in the afternoon.

"We're pretty confident we have the goods to do it," Chadwick said after Canterbury pipped Aorangi 3-2 yesterday afternoon but Manawatu/Wanganui succumbed to Waikato by the same result.

HBPB beat Manawatu/Wanganui several weeks ago in their annual Judy Pearson clash at the Manawatu Golf Club.

"It was quite tight in the end but we know we can do it again," she said.

Chadwick said every team in the interprovincials, with Auckland returning as the defending champions to chase their fourth consecutive crown, command a degree of respect because they all have pedigree golfers in their mix.

The Lochiel course, she said, reminded her of the Waiohiki course.

"It's open, green and very true."

HBPB are sitting in fifth place in division two on two team points and seven individual ones. Canterbury have two team points and 10 individual ones in third place behind unbeaten Bay of Plenty and Waikato, who have three team points each.

In division one, Auckland are setting a scorching pace (3/14) with North Harbour nipping at their heels.