KEY POINTS:
Canterbury's fighting qualities were on show at the Levels course in Timaru yesterday as they lowered the colours of titleholders North Harbour in the fifth round of the NZ men's interprovincial team golf tournament.
North Harbour's first loss in four matches has opened up section one where Bay
of Plenty, champions from 2002 to 2004, remain the only unbeaten team, although they were held to a draw by Canterbury in round three.
Bay of Plenty damaged Otago's semifinal prospects with an emphatic 4 1/2 to 1/2 win, the only Otago contribution coming from No 4 Sean Roach.
Although Bay of Plenty have a tough test in the final two section rounds today - against Hawkes Bay and North Harbour - they are well-placed to be one of the semifinalists with North Harbour and Canterbury favoured for the other spot.
Last year's beaten finalists Waikato won their fourth successive match, dropping just a half game against Southland when international Richard Wright was held to a half by No 3 Glen Gibson-Smith, who had lost his first four matches.
Waikato have their hardest day today against Auckland, who remain unbeaten but had their second half when held to a draw yesterday by Manawatu-Wanganui and Wellington.
Wellington, a half point behind Auckland, have to play Waikato and Taranaki today as do Auckland.
Canterbury's comeback was the main talking point yesterday as a loss would have extinguished their hopes of a place in the final four and that looked the most likely outcome when North Harbour led, 3 1/2 to 1 1/2, through 14 holes. The hero for Canterbury was lefthanded Willie Moore, playing his first interprovincial tournament. He was 3 down to junior international Samuel Shin after five and at the turn, but he played some lovely attacking shots to square the match with a birdie at 16. He won 17 as well and 18 for good measure.
Harbour captain Scott Johnson stopped the unbeaten run of Canterbury No 2 Brad Stuart, at the 16th, but Canterbury scored their third point when No 1 Andrew Searle finished off James Davis.
Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay were never really tested, but the final division one match produced a draw when Aorangi rallied to finish level with Tasman.
Tasman made most of the running, but experienced Peter Hayes, at No 5, turned a 1 down deficit after 14 into a 2 up win and young Mathew Bruce won the last hole for a 1 up victory.
Waikato and Wellington scored their expected wins against two of the bottom teams, but the Auckland and Manawatu-Wanganui clash was always close.
They were square through the turn and while Seve Ha and Fraser Wilkin won early for Auckland, they had to wait for No 2 Travis O'Connell to halve his match before the draw was assured.
No 1 Riki Kauika and steady Stuart Smith, at No 4, were the combined team's victors.
There was only one round yesterday with the final two section rounds today to determine the two qualifiers from each division for the semifinals tomorrow.
- NZPA
