KEY POINTS:
Otago's bubble was well and truly burst by previously win-less Hawke's Bay in round four of the New Zealand men's inter-provincial team golf championship at Levels, Timaru, yesterday.
After decisive wins against Canterbury and Aorangi, Otago were warmly tipped to down a Bay team which had succumbed to
both Aorangi and Tasman in division one, but Hawke's Bay were fast out of the blocks and never caught, winning 4-1.
Only No 2, Cam Beel, was ahead at the turn for Otago and, although he pressed on for a 3 and 2 victory, his four teammates were all beaten without playing the last.
Titleholder North Harbour had no such worries in the section, completing a whitewash of Tasman, who had won both matches on the first day, and Canterbury also scored a clean sweep against Northland, to whom they have not lost in 40 years.
The other division one match also went according to form with Bay of Plenty, champion from 2002 to 2004, dropping just the bottom singles to Aorangi. Aorangi stalwart and national selector Peter Hayes, 2 down at the turn, bagged his third win from four games, overcoming long-serving amateur George Kinghorn.
North Harbour are the only side with maximum match points in division one, but Bay of Plenty have won two and halved a tense morning match with Canterbury.
Bay of Plenty had two good putting chances on the last green to wrap up the tie, but No 2 Mark Smith missed his par putt from 3m and No 1 Danny Lee from 2m.
Two matches in the section hold considerable appeal in the one round this morning - North Harbour v Canterbury and Bay of Plenty v Otago.
In section two, Waikato, beaten 4-1 by Harbour in the 2005 final, and Auckland remain unbeaten, although Auckland was restricted to a half by Wellington in round one.
Both provinces were sorely tested, however, before winning 3-2 against Taranaki and Poverty Bay-East Coast, respectively.
Auckland No 5 Seve Ha, aged 15, was a match-winner against Poverty Bay-East Coast, beating Simon Jenkins at the last after Steven Donnelly and Tony Akroyd had given the combined team two wins.
And it was Waikato's No 5 Mark Boe who helped his team to its 3-2 success. He was 2 up at the turn, 1 down after 14, but came through to beat seasoned Bryan Martelletti at the 18th.
An intriguing match at the top pitted fellow national representatives James Gill (Waikato) and Troy Ropiha against each other.
Ropiha prevailed 2 up after being 1 down at the turn.
- NZPA
