Tasman golfers top of the South
The victorious Tasman team, from left, Sue Murray (Awatere), Michele Reardon (Nelson), Debbie Smith (Greenacres), Jo Rainbird (Rarangi), Tracy Bary (Rarangi), Aroha Minhinnick, (Rarangi), Emily Stenhouse (Marlborough), Andrea Thomas (Rarangi). Photo supplied.
A superbly-consistent effort throughout the order propelled the Tasman women’s golf team to the South Island Interprovincial title in late October.
The eight-strong side, containing six players from Marlborough clubs and two from Nelson, combined to rack up comfortable wins over their three provincial rivals – Canterbury, Otago and Aorangi.
The event was staged at the Taieri Lakes Golf Club near Dunedin and Tasman made a strong start against the hosts, prevailing 7-1, No 7 Jo Rainbird and No 8 Sue Murray scoring particularly decisive wins.
Next up they took on defending champs Canterbury and came away with a 5-3 victory. Tasman No 1 Aroha Minhinnick prevailed 2up over Catherine Bell and No 2 Tracy Bary beat Olive Tapu by the same score to give the top of the south crew a strong start at the top of the order. Then a 4/3 win to No 5 Emily Stenhouse, a 2/1 victory by Andrea Thomas at six and a 4/3 victory by Rainbird at seven clinched victory over a traditionally-strong rival.
In their final encounter Tasman saw off Aorangi 7-1, Minhinnick, Bary, Stenhouse, Thomas and Rainbird finishing the weekend with unbeaten records.
The last time Tasman won the SI title was 2019, when they prevailed in Marlborough. Before that it was 23 years since they got their hands on the silverware.
Final points: Tasman 19, Canterbury 15.5, Otago 8, Aorangi 5.5.
Now Tasman turn their attention to final preparations for the 2022 NZ Women’s Interprovincial to be played in Tauranga in December.
Champion of champions
The Tasman champion of champions event was staged at the Marlborough Golf Club last weekend.
The Women's Rosebowl winner was Nelson’s Greenacres club by countback to Rarangi, who were represented by siblings Aroha and Pippa Minhinnick, plus Ann Newman. The Silver Champion winner was Tasman No 1 Aroha Minhinnick while Pippa claimed the Bronze Champion Winner title.
Players from the Marlborough region players who won and got runner up were silver medalist Sa-nga Grupp (Blenheim), bronze medalist runner-up Pru Jensen (Marlborough), silver nett winner Sa-nga Grupp and Margaret Hastings (Awatere) who was nett runner-up in the bronze R/U division.
Men: senior nett winner: Richard Barnes (Marlborough); intermediate nett winner Brian Yarrall (Blenheim), runner-up: Henry Evans; junior winner: Ben Lissaman (Marlborough), runner-up Desz Campbell (Blenheim).