Historic weekend for city's Smith

Married life is definitely proving good for Penny Smith.

Smith (nee Newbrook) married Mark Smith almost four weeks ago and since then has earned a national senior recall and found some real form, which peaked during a historic weekend.

Last Friday, the talented Rotorua-based golfer was helping her New Zealand teammates win the senior women's Tasman Cup for the first time back-to-back since 1938 at the inaugural combined Trans-Tasman Cup in Canberra.

Yesterday, the Springfield Golf Club representative created a first by beating Taupo's George Lasker 2 and 1 in the Bay of Plenty Golf Association's pennant series in Tauranga.

Smith's club won seven matches to three but it was the battle of the number nines which was the most meaningful on the day. It was the first win by the groundbreaking woman who entered the men's premier club competition in a bid to improve her game.

In her first match with the men she halved with Omanu's Justin Rasmussen, but had to wait until yesterday to contribute a first individual win point for her team.

Because of her international commitments Smith's appearances have been limited for her club, but the plus 2.3 handicapper "never gave up [on winning against the men]. I played pretty good in Aussie and I was confident I was going to play well".

She set the scene with a winning birdie and played fantastically from the men's championship tees, even knocking the ball on to one of the par fives in just two hits.

It's very likely this was the first time a husband and wife have played on the same premier club team in New Zealand ( Mark had a 3/2 win against Alan Richardson). Smith won't be available for the next round on March 11 as she will be contesting the New Zealand Amateur championships.

Smith's opponent had nothing but praise for her play on the tree-lined Tauranga Golf Club at Gate Pa.

"She played very well, she's a strong player," said Lasker, a current Bay of Plenty Masters representative and selector. "It was a good game, I shot about 72 and I played all right."

He did his best to halve the match. He birdied the par five 17th hole and rolled in a 15-foot curling putt on the final hole. But Smith countered with an equally slippery 10-footer.

Smith's international and club teammate Danny Lee played some stunning golf in the number one match against Jason McIntosh.

Lee saw off his former representative teammate at the 13th hole following a nine-birdie effort.

In the other matches, Whakatane continued the boilover setting for this season in beating Mt Maunganui six games to four, while Rotorua handled Omanu seven to two.

Ryan Irwin and Steve Heberly added wins to Michael Gassner, James Hunt and Raniera Mason for Whakatane. Harry McCulloch, George MacDonald, David Humphrey, Mailau Skudder, David Seekup, Graham Cudd and Landyn Edwards played for Rotorua.

Rotorua and Springfield are the only unbeaten teams but both have byes to come.