Golf: North need to down hot-shots

Northland women golfers need at least one win to make the championships.

Northland women's golfers are looking for at least one win today to keep their championship hopes alive at the Toro New Zealand Women's Interprovincials.

The team face two of the tournament favourites today at the Riverside Golf Club at Lochiel and a win over either defending champions Auckland or North Harbour - or both - will boost their semifinal chances.

"Both those teams are always very strong and they'll be tight matches for us but if we can get a win - at least one win - and other results go our way then it will help our cause to make the semifinals," selector and No4 Sam Dangen said.

Northland easily defeated Otago yesterday 4.5 to 0.5.

Brooke Kingi, Jodi Macalister, Kylie Jacoby and Dangen won their matches comfortably while No5 Danielle Lowe fought back from three holes down to halve her match with Robyn Chambers.

On the opening day of the competition on Tuesday, Northland beat Tasman comfortably 4-1 but couldn't replicate the same form in the afternoon against a much stronger Wellington team, going down 1-4.

The match was a lot tighter than the final score indicated and Northland actually led at the fifth hole, with the match tied at the halfway point, but in the end only Macalister and Dangen halved their games.

The Tasman game was a lot easier with only Macalister having an off-day, going down to Sue Murray 4/3.

"We've played pretty well at the tournament so far - everyone's pleased with how they are playing - we've just got to keep it up when we come up against Auckland and Harbour," Dangen said.

No1 Brooke Kingi will have her work cut out for her when she comes up against Harbour No1 and rising star Rica Tse, who has just returned from playing college golf in the United States.

Auckland and North Harbour are undefeated in round robin play and they had 5-0 wins over Tasman and Southland respectively in yesterday morning's round.

Northland had a bye in yesterday afternoon's round.