Talented side in with a shot

By Peter Thorley

Northland are a long shot, but one that might be worth backing to win the Garrard Shield at the Royal Auckland Golf Club this weekend.

Northland No1 Brad Bonnington said there is a quiet confidence in the team as they field one of their strongest ever challenges for the shield and the Ralph Cup.

The team needed a half against Waikato after wins over Taranaki and Auckland, to win the recent quadrangular in Auckland, but couldn't quite manage it, losing 3-5.

"We're backing ourselves as a realistic chance to win. At The Grange in the quad a few weeks ago we put ourselves in with a big chance to win after the first day and we just came up short but we proved to ourselves how much potential we've got," Bonnington said.

He said a four-all draw at an earlier quad against the always strong Bay of Plenty showed just how talented the young side is.

"There are some great prospects for the future in the side, players like Chase McKeown, Sean Masters and Luke Brown have really come on this year and there are other players below them who are really pushing hard," he said.

Bonnington, who has played for the Northland senior team for more than 10 years since debuting as a 15-year-old, said players like Thomas Neylon, not to mention 16-year-old Braden Keown, are really pushing to get into the top eight.

Keown, who is playing at number-one for the U19 Ralph Cup team, figured prominently as Northland won the Junior Interprovincial in Cambridge for the first time this year - and who won the junior quad again for the first time.

The Garrard Shield is the final selection game for the Toro Men's Interprovincials - with the team named at the prizegiving on Sunday. Bonnington said with the competition so close even his own place isn't assured in the line-up.

"It's going to be really tough for (Northland selector) Roy Pelsky to pick the six to go away because there's not a lot of difference between one to eight in the team for the first time in a long time. Someone's going to be unlucky to miss out, but it's great position for Northland golf to be in."

He said there wasn't a player in the team who wasn't highly motivated to play well at Middlemore.

"Everyone has to put in a good performance and I don't think anyone feels comfortable that they'll make the team. Brett (Dormer) and I are out to prove ourselves this weekend and hold on to our spots among a bunch of young players on the rise," he said.

The Garrard Shield is the longest standing and most prestigious golf trophy, apart from the national interprovincials, that Northland is involved in. It has been contested since 1954 by Northland, Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.

"I think we've got a good chance at winning it, and that's something I don't think we've ever done, well not in my time at least," Bonnington said.

The Northland senior team in playing order is: Brad Bonnington, Alex Neely, Chase Mckeown, Sean Masters, Luke Brown, Kadin Neho, Brett Dormer, Lee Neumann. Reserve: Thomas Neylon.

The Under-19 team for the Ralph Cup is: Braden Keown, Julian Fowler, Taylor Gill, Ben Bowmar. Reserve: Liam Young.

The Team Managers' team to play for the Bell Trophy is: Roy Pelsky, Neil Sorenson, Brian Mulcahy and Ralph Sansbury.