Golf: HB chances blown in Southland gale

The Hawke's Bay Masters women's golf side have enhanced their reputation as the province's unluckiest team with a fourth consecutive second placing at national level.

"We're bridesmaids again," captain and No1 Janie Field announced as the team's van arrived at the Invercargill Airport yesterday afternoon in time for the side's flight home.

The Hawke's Bay women started yesterday's fourth and final round of play on the third day of the New Zealand Masters Inter-provincial tournament at the Invercargill club one shot behind leaders and host province Southland who captured a fourth consecutive title. Field said cold, wet and windy conditions for the second half of yesterday's round was the key factor in Southland improving their lead to 11 shots.

"Most of the Southland team were playing on their home course. It was always going to be tough for us and more so when the weather turned nasty," Field said.

"We might have better luck next year with the tournament moved to April when it will be warmer. It will also be at Feilding and that course is more familiar to us. We're all available again too," Field explained referring to herself, clubmate and No3 Vicky Turley, No2 Kathy Olsen of the Maraenui club and No4 Lynne Roberts of the Hastings club.

It was a case of double disappointment for Field as her stableford score of 25 yesterday saw the Best Individual Trophy slip from her grasp. She had been second in the battle for the trophy in 2009, 10 and 11 and she was the top placed individual by three shots before yesterday's round.

Field finished third equal. Southland No2 Robyn Pullar, who scored 34 stablefords yesterday, won the individual award with 131 points over the four rounds.

Pullar's captain and Southland No1 Robyn Boniface, who had won the individual award for the previous four years, was second.

Roberts was among the top four players on the individual standings. She and Olsen scored 28 points yesterday while Turley matched Field's 25.

In Saturday's third round Field scored 35, Roberts 31, Olsen 29 and Turley 27 and in Saturday's second round Roberts 35, Field 33, Olsen 26 and Turley 26.