Golf: Fox wins feature match as team romp into semis

Ryan Fox. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Auckland were the final team to confirm their semifinal place, joining Canterbury, Bay of Plenty and Southland, when they overcame defending champions Wellington on a dramatic day at the Poverty Bay Golf Club in Gisborne.

Division one was dubbed the pool of death and so it proved as the two most successful teams in the history of the Toro Men's Interprovincial, Wellington (13 wins) and Auckland (12), fought it out with a place in the final at stake.

Auckland No 1 Ryan Fox, who is trying to win his first interprovincial title before he turns professional, won the feature match of the day 1up against his good mate and Wellington rival Ben Campbell.

But the team contest was already won by that stage when Auckland No2 Fraser Wilkin defeated Thomas Spearman Burn 1up to put the point beyond reach. Auckland won in the end by 4-1.

Wilkin made a crucial birdie on the 17th that was the deciding moment of the match.

"It was a putt I felt comfortable over straight away and it was an easy putt by my mind," said the Royal Auckland member.

"I am really happy with the way our boys have fought back the past couple of days."

New Zealand rep Sam An was another of Auckland's heroes on the final day of pool play as he made nine birdies in 13 holes to win 6 and 4 against Adam Church.

Auckland, who have not won the title since 1995, have made a remarkable comeback to reach the semifinals after they suffered a shock defeat against Northland and then lost a close battle with Canterbury.

"We didn't expect to be in this position after the first two rounds so it has been a good couple of days," said Fox.

In the other decisive match in division one, Canterbury confirmed their place in the final four with a comfortable 5-0 win over Hawkes Bay.

"We stepped up today and played really well," said manager Rod Hayes.

On the other side of the draw, Bay of Plenty progressed as the only undefeated team with six wins from six matches in division two.

The Bay booked their place in the semifinals tomorrow with an emphatic 4 to win over Aorangi South Canterbury.

Southland play Auckland today and Bay of Plenty are up against Canterbury with both semifinals teeing off at 7.30am. The final tees off at 12.30pm.