Memory of teammate key motivator in title defence

The memory of a teammate is a major motivating factor for the Bay of Plenty team ahead of next week's Lion Foundation Freyberg Masters in Whitianga.

Last year, Tony Hewlett played a key role in Bay of Plenty winning the over-40s match play event in Christchurch for the first time since it began back in 1986.

But he died while playing golf at his beloved Omokoroa Golf Club links last December.

Bay of Plenty selector/manager Ross Fowler said the team was dedicating this week to Tony's memory.

"He was a very devoted team man, who was one of those guys always there when you needed him," said Fowler. "Nothing was ever an issue. He worked really, really hard to lift the standard of his own game to make sure he was in the team each year." Fowler believed the Bay had a good chance of defending the title.

"The average handicap of the five golfers is two, which says a lot about the standard of the team. We have had some coaching sessions courtesy of Bay of Plenty Golf, which has been great, plus the guys have been working individually and collectively pretty much every day for the last month."

Bay of Plenty have been strengthened by having former professional golfer Mikki Strong in the team.

"He got his amateur status back in July and he certainly gives us a lot of strength in that middle order for sure," said Fowler.

Bay of Plenty Golf chief executive, Chris McAlpine, was impressed with the culture the team had developed.

"For years we used to struggle to get players to represent us at this level and now we have guys busting their guts to make the team.

"It is a very healthy competition now and a lot of that is down to Ross Fowler, who has created a culture which has been very positive.

"We expect them to do very well again. This time they go in as title holders so the pressure will be on them."