Two of New Zealand’s golfing giants have once again showcased their dominance at the 2024 NZ Interprovincials, hosted this week by Canterbury across the pristine Russley and Harewood Golf Clubs. Auckland’s men defended their title with a hard-fought victory over Bay of Plenty (BOP), while a spirited North Harbour women’s team toppled Auckland in an intense final to claim the trophy.
Auckland Men Reign Supreme
The Auckland men’s team solidified their status as the country’s top golfing province, claiming their second consecutive title after defeating Bay of Plenty in their third straight finals showdown.
The week began with all 15 provincial teams competing in a rigorous seven-match round-robin format across Russley and Harewood Golf Clubs. After Friday’s pool play, the top four teams advanced to the semi-finals, played in front of an enthusiastic local crowd at Russley Golf Club.
In the first men’s semi-final, hosts Canterbury faced a tough challenge against Bay of Plenty, falling to a 4-1 defeat, with only New Zealand Amateur Champion Cooper Moore securing a win for the hosts. In the other semi-final, Auckland beat their Wellington rivals 3.5-1.5, setting up a much-anticipated rematch with BOP in the final.
Bay of Plenty came out firing in the title match, with Francis Lockwood and Kevin Bang delivering commanding 5&4 and 4&3 victories in the number four and three matches. Auckland responded with strength, as number five Steven Van Heerden claimed a 3&1 win, and New Zealand Stroke Play Champion Robby Turnbull leveled the contest with a dominant 5&4 victory.
With the championship on the line, Auckland’s Joshua Bai stepped up in the decisive number one match. After a heartbreaking loss to Bay of Plenty’s Kale in the 2022 final, Bai earned his redemption with a solid 3&1 win, sealing Auckland’s victory and earning himself Player of the Tournament honours for an impressive week of six wins and two halves.
North Harbour Women Claim the Title
The North Harbour women’s team delivered one of the tournament’s most gripping performances, overcoming Auckland in a tense “Battle of the Bridge” final to lift the trophy.
In the semi-finals, North Harbour faced Wellington in a dramatic contest that went beyond regulation play. After the match ended tied 2.5-2.5, the number five players, Olivia Yoon (North Harbour) and her Wellington counterpart, returned for a sudden-death playoff. Yoon held her nerve to prevail on the 20th hole, booking North Harbour’s place in the final.
In the other semi-final, Auckland narrowly edged out Canterbury 3-2, setting up an all-Northern clash for the championship.
The final proved to be a nail-biting affair. Auckland’s number five Cherry Lee gave her team an early lead with a tight 1up win over Yoon, while the number fours, Gabriela He (Auckland) and Sarah Li (North Harbour), halved their match, leaving the outcome to the top-order battles.
North Harbour’s strength at the top proved decisive. Sophie Yu dominated her match with a 6&4 win, followed by Teresa Wang with a convincing 4&3 victory. In the final pairing, Juwon Kim edged her Auckland opponent 1up, sealing a historic win for North Harbour.
Kim’s standout performance earned her the Player of the Tournament award, finishing with an exceptional record of seven wins and just one loss at number one.
A Week to Remember
The 2024 NZ Interprovincials highlighted the exceptional talent and depth of New Zealand’s provincial golfers. Auckland’s men reaffirmed their dominance with back-to-back titles, while North Harbour’s women displayed grit and determination to overcome one of the competition’s most successful provinces.
With players like Joshua Bai and Juwon Kim leading their respective teams to victory and taking home individual honours, the future of New Zealand golf looks brighter than ever.
For spectators, the immaculate Russley and Harewood Golf Clubs provided the perfect setting for a thrilling week of competition — a true celebration of provincial pride and New Zealand’s amateur golf excellence.
