Boniface, Pullar in New Zealand team
During her time representing Southland in hockey, Robyn Pullar broke a wrist and a finger.
‘‘It was time to find another sport,’’ she said.
The switch from tennis, hockey and touch rugby to golf was made 24 years ago and she hasn’t looked back since.
Now, she and fellow Invercargill golfer Robyn Boniface are the only South Islanders in the New Zealand team for the inaugural Women’s Seniors Trans-Tasman Cup in Adelaide in October.
Boniface gained automatic entry into the team by winning the Australian Women’s Senior Ama- teur Championship in Queensland last in October. Pullar and the other four in the team were told on Friday that they had been selected.
Selectors researched results and performances at various tournaments, including women’s masters and New Zealand seniors, before deciding on the five to join Boniface in the team.
Boniface is also the captain and manager.
As a lead into the Trans-Tasman Cup, the Kiwis will play in the Australian Women’s Senior Amateur Championship which is being held this year in the Barossa Valley, 60 kilometres from Adelaide.
‘‘To be selected to play for your country is the ultimate,’’ Boniface said. ‘‘To get two [from Southland] in a New Zealand team, it shows you don’t have to go out of your province to achieve these things.’’ She and Pullar will be representing New Zealand for the first time. ‘‘It’s a big honour,’’ Pullar said. The pair have been in the same teams that have won six masters titles at national level.
Pullar has played most of her life.
The Otatara Golf Club member said the introduction of ranger finders had been one of the more sport for significant developments in the sport in the past decade. The device measures distance.
Changes in golf club design and other equipment and information about the sport on the internet had been huge in that time, Boniface said.
Boniface, who has played golf for 49 years, is chairwoman of the Queens Park Golf Club.
Golf Southland board member John Griffin said Boniface and Pullar thoroughly deserved to be in the New Zealand team.
‘‘It’s fantastic news for Southland to have two in the team, we’re extremely proud of them and our other seniors,’’ he said.
‘‘It shows there are opportunities in golf for older players.’’