Golf: Good effort by young team

Northland was the unlucky team at the Toro Men's Golf Interprovincials finishing in sixth place, being undone by the performance of Tasman after earlier upsetting the home team at the Otago Golf Club.

Northland gave themselves every opportunity to make the semifinals after toppling Otago, Canterbury and Poverty Bay before they were dealt the cruel blow by Tasman.

After being beaten by Northland first up, Tasman looked dead and buried after two rounds of the championship after a loss and a half but won four straight matches in convincing fashion to be the form team heading into the playoffs.

President of Northland Men's Golf, and team manager, Roy Pelsky said they had to win both of their matches in the lead up to the semis, which they did, but missed out after Tasman upset Bay of Plenty.

"We did our part. We knew coming into the last day we had to win both matches, and if we did that it was in the hands of the other matches," Pelsky said.

"We were hoping Bay of Plenty would beat them in the morning, but that didn't happen. Tasman are a good team, [and] we were one of the few teams to beat them this year."

Pelsky said Northland's win over Otago was a highlight with Brad Bonnington and Luke Brown stepping up in pressure situations.

"Brad [Bonnington] chipped in for a birdie and their guy missed a six foot putt, which set us up with Luke Brown playing the last match."

They were all squared up on the last when Brown saved par, the pressure proving too much as Otago's golfer went on to bogey.

"Really proud of the boys and with their results. I couldn't ask for much more than that," said Pelsky.

"These young guys are our top golfers.

"Not only are they playing at junior level, they're playing at senior level and they're only 17 with Kadin [Neho] only 15. Our boys have had a good year and this is a good result for us."

Northland's sixth place is their best finish since 1987 when they made the semifinals at Mt Denby Whangarei Golf Club, last year they finished eighth.