Favourites flying at Women's Interprovincial

Siyi Keh during the Toro Women's Interprovincial Golf Championships. Photo / bwmedia.co.nz

Day one was dominant from this weeks favourites at the Womens Toro Interprovincial with Auckland, Canterbury and Bay of Plenty recording impressive victories to open their accounts at Westown Golf Club.

Auckland have arrived in Taranaki to get their hands back on the trophy after Canterbury put a stop to their four straight winning streak in Ashburton last year and with two five-nil victories today, they couldnt have got off to a better start.

After beating Hawkes Bay Poverty Bay in the morning, they then thrashed a fighting Aorangi side to leave with ten out of ten wins.

Its clear that this Auckland outfit has a spark in their eyes and number three Siyi Keh is here to ensure they get back in the winners circle.

"We are feeling pumped, especially after last year and we have come back with a good new team so we are certainly hoping for the best this week," said Keh.

This Auckland side is proving to have outstanding balance with New Zealand Amateur Champion Rose Zheng moving into the number one position after a near perfect start to the golfing summer.

"We have some fresh blood in the team which works really well alongside Brittney [Dryland], Munchin [Keh] and myself as the more experienced members.

Although their dominance was clear, they wont be taking any teams lightly.

"Every team is challenging and you have to take one match at a time and never under-estimate anyone, so hopefully we can continue that thought process and slowly build some good team performances."

The defending champions Canterbury also showed class in their first hit-out with a notable 4-1 victory over Otago. After a first round bye, the sleep-in obviously worked wonders with big victories from Amelia Garvey (5&3), Juliana Hung (4&3) and Catherine Bell (9&7).

Canterbury are making a habit of winning after last nights exciting victory at the Toro Shootout Challenge which follows the opening ceremony. Teams were competing to see how many balls they could hit in the tray of a new Toro Workman which then went to a playoff. Up stepped the managers where Kate Johnstone drained it with her first shot to send the crowd into hysterics.

2015 semi-finalists Bay of Plenty showed they are ready to take on the title also earning a clean sweep of their own against a solid Tasman side. They also had a bye in the first round and once they started, it was one-way traffic with all five players getting an early lead.

The five strong team of Alanna Campbell, Rotana Howard, Emmalee Morrell, Jodae Ngaheu and Mary Lines will be looking to go one better after losing in the final to Canterbury last year and this victory is the perfect start.

Wellington also secured two hard fought wins over Manawatu/Wanganui and home side Taranaki to continue the winning momentum of golf in the Wellington region after a historic win from the mens side at New Plymouth Golf Club last week.

A noticeable theme on day one was the youth that has embarked on Westown Golf Club. Many sides are clearly breeding talent and even making a position for a Jordie Barrett like apprentice.

This includes exciting talents such as Belinda May (Northland) Carmen Lim (Auckland) Tara Raj (Manawatu/Wanganui) Darae Chung (Wellington) and Lizzie Neale (Tasman)

Once again play will commence at 7:30am where Wellington have a big day of battle facing off with Bay of Plenty in the morning and last years semi-finalists North Harbour, who were also unbeaten today.

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Golf NZ