Players experienced a day of contrasts with weather and results, however the ‘Moo-Loos’ are hanging on! The ‘mighty’ Waikato team will go onto tomorrow’s final with a 5-shot lead over defending champions, Northland.
Captain of the Waikato team, Jill Morgan has been consistent with a contribution today of 64 points, with two rounds of 32 gross stableford points. However, it was a different story for the veteran Waikato cap, Robyn Pellow who returned a non-counting card this afternoon, of 21 points, in contrast to her morning round of 29. Julie Gee had rounds of 26 and 24, Pam Wright 29 and 28, and the team now sit with a total of 266 points.
Leading individual overall remains Northland’s Kylie Jacoby with 97 points. Her rounds today of 31 and 32 have held Northland’s overnight second place position, with a total of 216 points. Alayna Cox had a good day but again changing fortunes during the day for team members Jo Taylor, swinging from a morning round of 19 to an afternoon round of 25. In contrast, the fourth Northland player, Jenny Peters started with 28 this morning but then brought in 25 points this afternoon, unexpectantly, in the much better part of the day.
Auckland will still rate their chances who finished the day with 257 points. Again, a surprise score from number 1, Sian Kelly with a non-counting score of 24 in her morning round. Kelly put on 27 points this afternoon to add to Brigit Holford’s, 32 and Linda Creedy’s, 28, a solid afternoon for Auckland with 87 points. Newcomer to the team, Allison Drake-Wells card counted this morning, with 27 points, but she slipped 2 points in her afternoon round, to be the non-counting player.
Rounding out the top four teams is Bay of Plenty who rallied having started the day in 6th equal position. Another newcomer, Diane Syer who has played most of her golf in Australia, been the most consistent sitting with a personal tally of 95 points. Shelley McElory again a solid anchor for the team, Bay of Plenty sit only one shot back with 256 points. The past 5-time winners fielded two newcomers this year, with Debbie Noble selected, with the fourth player, Pip Lawson playing in her 5th Masters.
Surprise movers in the morning round were the typically strong Southland team who fell from 2nd place overnight to 8th position after the morning round. It ended up being a massive day of contrast for this fiercely competitive team who steamed back this afternoon to finish in 6th equal place. The most notable inconsistences being the two ‘Robyn’s’ who typically are at the top of the leader board, year after year. Robyn Boniface went from 27 to 32 this afternoon with Robyn Pullar having a morning to forget with 22 points but then, the best round of the afternoon with 33, a 11-shot swing!
North Harbour sit in 5th place on 255 points, and are on target to improve on their 2017 9th placing. Aorangi finished in 2017 in a share of 4th and sit in 6th place with 252 points. The two biggest contributors in the Harbour team being Vaha Fapiano and Pam Sowden, with Catherine Knight and Ginny Bolderston being the best for Aorangi.
Home favourite’s Taranaki had a great morning, despite the harsh winds and rain, with Joanne McDonald having a 32 this morning. McDonald was seeded in 3rd place for the ‘Naki’ but is the top scorer with a personal tally of 87. Taranaki have won the Masters only once, 11 years ago in Kerikeri. They sit with Southland on 215 points, and will need a 15 shot swing to get their hands on the Russell Grace Trophy again.
Rd 3 Results
266 Waikato, 92, 90, 84
261 Northland, 90, 85, 86
257 Auckland, 88, 82, 87
256 Bay of Plenty, 86, 90,80
255 North Harbour, 90, 83, 82
252 Aorangi, 86, 82, 84
251 Southland, 91, 72, 88: Taranaki, 86, 86, 79
247 Manawatu / Wanganui, 85, 81, 81
236 Canterbury, 80, 81, 75, Hawkes Bay, 83, 79, 74
232 Wellington, 81, 75, 76
229 Otago, 79, 72, 78
218 Tasman, 76, 70, 72