Golf: NSW take U-23 title

New South Wales, with three of last year's team back in commission, retained their New Zealand under-23 team 72-hole strokeplay title at Taupo yesterday.

New Zealand matchplay champion James Nitties and Andrew McKenzie and Alex Simpson were all members of last year's successful side.

New South Wales won by 18 shots a year ago, but were held to 13 by Queensland on this occasion.

The best of the 14 New Zealand provinces was Bay of Plenty, who confirmed their No 1 status in the country, but they were 14 shots adrift of Queensland.

The national under-23 strokeplay championship begins in Hastings tomorrow.