Auckland will have to rely on some of their rivals faltering over the next two days if they are to have a chance of breaking their 14-year drought in the men's interprovincial golf championship.
On a day again disrupted by torrential rain that inundated the Manawatu Golf Club's course near
Palmerston North, Auckland followed their 3-2 loss to Hawkes Bay in the gloom of Tuesday evening with a similar result against Wellington. They had the luxury of an afternoon bye when the worst of the weather set in, but they will need to win their remaining matches against Waikato, Manawatu-Wanganui and Taranaki and hope the others falter.
Fraser Wilkin was the only Aucklander ahead after nine holes yesterday and he went on to beat Haupai Puha 1 up. Jason Mann, Gary-John Hill and Ben Wallace never recovered but number one Ryan Fox came back from one down at the turn to beat Peter Spearman-Burn 2 up.
Fox, who holed every putt he sighted against Hawkes Bay, struggled on the greens at first, but was four under the card at the finish thanks to an eagle on the par-five 14th.
Waikato, who had lost their one match on Tuesday, were made to battle all the way before beating Manawatu-Wanganui 3-2. The clincher was Les Miller's comeback at the top of the order, winning his last three holes to beat young Tyler Lock 2 and 1. At the other end of the order Aaron Leech holed a 2.5m double-breaking birdie putt on the last to snatch a vital half.
Defending champions Bay of Plenty needed wins from Landyn Edwards, Kieran Muir and Andrew Stewart to subdue unfancied Aorangi 3-2 while North Harbour dropped only one game against Poverty Bay.
The second round of the day dragged on into the gloaming with Bay of Plenty extending their winning run against Otago, Manawatu and Hawkes Bay sharing the points, Wellington thrashing Tasman, North Harbour making it two wins for the day against Northland and Waikato heading Taranaki.
The forecast for the remaining section games today and tomorrow and the semifinals and final on Saturday is for improving weather.
