Golf: Southland to face Bay of Plenty in Interprovincial final

Vaughan McCall. Photo / Stephen Parker

Southland has stunned Auckland to make the Toro Men's Interprovincial final and set up a showdown with Bay of Plenty at the Poverty Bay Golf Club in Gisborne.

It was a comprehensive win for the underdog Southland team, who only made the final four yesterday after a fight back from Vaughan McCall in his match with Tasman number one Blair Riordan.

McCall was one of the heroes for Southland again this morning, as he dismissed Auckland number one Ryan Fox four and three to lead the way.

His Southland teammates followed suit, with number five Matt Tautari beating Tae Koh one-up and Scott Hellier came back from one-down with four to play to upset Jonathan Racliffe and secure the win, by three-and-a-half to a half.

It was a disappointing end to Fox's provincial career after Auckland had fought back so valiantly the past two days to make the semifinals.

Southland will look to win their first Toro Men's Interprovincial title in the past 61 years against a dominant Bay of Plenty team, who overcame Canterbury in the semifinals and are looking to win their fourth title in five years.

The Bay, who progressed to sudden death as the only unbeaten team, continued their momentum with a three-and-a-half to one-and-a-half win over the red and blacks.

Brad Kendall won the battle of the number ones against Keelan Kilpatrick five and four, while Landyn Edwards remained unbeaten after being all square with Jordan Bakermans, and James Hamilton and Sam Davis secured the vital points for the Bay.

Bay of Plenty, who has won the Toro Men's Interprovincial title six times since it began in 1960, is favoured to win the title after winning 24 of the 30 possible points on offer in pool play.

Results from the Toro Men's Interprovincial semifinals, from the Poverty Bay Golf Club in Gisborne this morning:

Bay of Plenty 3 1/2 bt Canterbury 1 1/2

Brad Kendall bt Keelan Kilpatrick 5/4, Landyn Edwards halved with Jordan Bakermans, James Hamilton bt Tom Turner 4/3, Sam Davis bt Mark O'Malley 4/3, Craig Hamilton lost to Harry Bateman 3/2.

Southland 3 1/2 Auckland 1 1/2

Vaughan McCall bt Ryan Fox 4/3, Cody Harper lost to Fraser Wilkin 2/1, Liam Balneaves halved with Sam An, Scott Hellier bt Jonathan Ratcliffe 1 up, Matt Tautari bt Tae Koh 1 up.

- APNZ