Interview with Lakeview golf president Paul Hartstone.
It was a double Rotorua win at the annual Lakeview Golf Classic on the weekend.
Local Landyn Edwards defended last year's gross premier men's title - with a total of 145 over 36 holes over the two-day tournament, which finished on Sunday.
In the women's field, Rotana Howard completed ahat-trick of Classic title wins, also finishing with a total of 145.
Howard, coached by former New Zealand player and amateur national No 1 Paul Hartstone, was "delighted" with her victory after being "pushed hard" by fellow local golfer Shelley McElroy on Saturday.
"I have to say I was a bit concerned at the end of day one - I was only three shots ahead of Shelley," she said.
"They managed to control any nerves though and performed well in difficult conditions with the wind."
The annual tournament, run for the past 20 years, had a field of 92, with half local competitors from the Lakeview and Springfield clubs and international entries from the Cook Islands and Australia.
Howard, a Bay of Plenty representative, said the victory would hold her in good stead for the Toro Women's Interprovincial Tournament in early December - where she will be part of a team who finished runners-up to Canterbury last year.
Auckland will also be a team to watch, having won the competition for four years previous.
"It was good because this tournament builds confidence for the rest of the season," she said.
"I'm very excited about representing Bay of Plenty and we will hopefully do one better than last year.
"It will be very tough because the top five players are sent from each province but we have the drive and we want to redeem ourselves after the Canterbury result.
"I think we will be viewed as underdogs because this year we will have a very young squad with quite a few new faces. But I have confidence and our aim is to win."
Premier gross (1-15): 1. L. Edwards 145 2. J. Wells 146.
Premier stableford: F. Felise 77, B. Mackway-Jones 76, D. Sander 74, H. Tibble 73, M.Skudder 72, T. Paul 70, A. Waugh 70, D.Steele 70, J. Stewart 70, M. Simpkins 68, J. Reid 66, H. Te Puni 66, R. Fiaola 66, S. Holloway 66.
Second division gross (16 above): 1. K. Whiston 175, 2. C. Borthwick 176.
Second division stableford B: Calkin 78, S. Howell 74, R. Campbell 73, B. Hutchinson 73, M. Rangiheuea 72, R. Cunningham 69, R. Katting 69, R. Blackburn 68, T. Kopae 68, D. Lynch 68, B. McCashin 67
