Mixed fortunes for Otago on day one

OTAGO had mixed fortunes on the first day of the women’s national interprovincial team tournament on the Waitikiri course in Christchurch yesterday.

The team beat Aorangi 31⁄221⁄2 in the morning but went down to Northland by the same margin in the afternoon.

Otago is tied for second with Hawkes Bay in its group on two points, 1.5 behind Northland.

Buoyed by the men’s team’s maiden win last week, Northland began well by beating Hawkes Bay in the morning and Otago in the afternoon.

In the morning, Otago No 1 Laura Hoskin started strongly and was six holes ahead of Aorangi’s Catherine Knight at the turn. She emerged with two wins for the day, beating Northland’s Shardae Bulkeley on the 17th green in the afternoon.

Otago No 2 Danielle Bailey trailed Aorangi’s Ginny Bolder ston by one after seven holes but won the eighth and ninth holes to turn 1up. She romped home on the back nine eventually winning 5 and 3 margin.

No 3 Abigael Crawford turned 1down to Angela Gerken who switched allegiance from Southland to Aorangi this year. Gerken did not let her back into the game which finished on the 16th green.

No 4 Sumin Kang was in good form in the morning leading Lynda Brown by four at the turn and kept the pressure on to win 7 and 5 margin.

No 5 Susan Greig was 1down after five holes but grafted out a half.

Losing to Northland in the second round could prove costly for Otago.

The match was much closer than the losing margin indicated, Bailey and Greig losing on the final green.

Kang’s match also finished on the 18h but she remains unbeaten having snatched a half with Northland’s Sianna Bishop.