Golf: Wellington go all out for shot at semis

Hosts Wellington dug deep to upset defending champions Auckland in a must-win clash to preserve a shot at the semifinal at the women's interprovincial team golf championship in Miramar yesterday.

After being held to a halved encounter with leaders Bay of Plenty in the morning, Wellington needed the win over Auckland, which looked improbable until they came from behind to get home 3 to 1.

Bay of Plenty had to withstand a tough match against Canterbury to win 4-1 and go to the top of division one with nine points, one ahead of Wellington, with Auckland further back on seven points.

Wellington now need to beat winless Aorangi South Canterbury in the final round tomorrow to earn their first semifinal place for more than a decade. Auckland must beat Bay of Plenty by a clear match if they are to make the playoffs on a countback.

In the other division, Waikato, the 2008 champions, and North Harbour, last year's runners-up, have already booked their places in tomorrow's semfinals.

As Waikato has managed to sneak into the top spot on a countback of individual games, it may mean that Harbour clash with rivals Auckland in the semifinal.

Both Waikato and Harbour had their moments in the sixth round in the afternoon, edging home 3-2 against Otago and Northland respectively.

Waikato's Kelly Nicholas, Charlotte Willson and Hannah Seifert continued their unbeaten runs, while Bay of Plenty got crucial wins at the top of the order by Heather Lavery and Saini Skudder on the final green to get them home.

North Harbour were never threatened, Lydia Ko in stunning form again in both games yesterday, making six birdies and an eagle in the two rounds both in red figures.

The focus went on locals Wellington, who had to bounce back after their second halved match, sharing the honours with Bay of Plenty in the morning.

They led early against Auckland but the defending champions worked back into a threatening position coming down the stretch.

Barbara Parreno, 16, had lost each of her previous four games at No 3 for Wellington but in the afternoon she stepped up in the crucial closing holes to grab the vital 3 and 2 victory over the impressive Caryn Khoo.

In today's final round, North Harbour and Waikato clash to decide who tops the section for the semifinals, while the Bay of Plenty-Auckland game looms as a classic to decide the other division. NZPA