- By NZ Golf

The defending Australian team may think the ‘door is slightly ajar’ or ‘even swinging with opportunity’ after their very successful day at the Taupo Golf Club, winning all three matches in this morning’s Foursomes, and then two of three Fourball matches this afternoon.

However as the deadly Southland pair of Robyn Boniface and Robyn Pullar showed, the game can swing, with a mixture of determination coupled with three birides in the last three holes, and the ‘door can swing shut’.

Boniface, the New Zealand captain drilled a 20metre putt on the par-4 16th to make the first of their birdies, to give some light on what had been a tough back nine, trailing their Australian opponents since the 7th hole. Their opponents, Jacqui Morgan, the Australian captain paired with Helen Pascoe were not going to capitulate easily, both teams making impressive birdies on the short par-4 17th.

It was down to final putts on the 18th hole, the other two Fourball matches having finished, with Australia claiming both. The cool New Zealand captain then drilled her putt for a two on the par-3 18th. The match was New Zealand’s 1up which prevented a ‘dead-rubber’ going into tomorrow’s singles. And importantly gave the Kiwi team a very positive much needed boost to finish the day.

The singles match play list was then announced by the captains, the Australians having the honour of first pick. Morgan announced Kim Burke to lead the team out, who is no stranger to wining on New Zealand soil, having won the New Zealand Senior Women’s Match Play in 2017.

‘Bang’, Boniface countered with the announcement of herself to take on Burke. With only six matches to be played, it’s hard to pick a ‘marquee group’ but this lead pair will be one to watch.

Second out will be local Diana Syer, the current New Zealand Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion, who will take on Australia’s Sue Wooster. This will be a match of local knowledge and form vs a wealth of international experience that Wooster brings to the match.

Both players in the third match, have won the New Zealand Senior Women’s Championship; Australia’s Sandra Dawson, a one-time winner, against Robyn Pellow, who has hoisted the trophy twice. Pellow has a strong band of supporters who have made the journey down from her home course, Ngaruawahia. Pellow will want to reward their support but Dawson will not be an easy opponent.

Matches four and five see Australian’s Helen Pascoe and Carman Palframan play Bright Holford and Robyn Pullar respectively. Morgan has placed herself at the back of her team, wanting to have a strong finish if need be and will take on Julie Gee, the new cap for New Zealand, in the last of the matches to be played.

Australia, the defending team, won the Trans-Tasman Cup in the inaugural tournament played in Adelaide 2018 by one point.

With five wins already on the board, they would rightly think they have a ‘sniff’ of the 2020 tournament but the Kiwis will come out fighting. The results of today’s matches do not demonstrate the competitiveness and the way many games see-sawed back and forth, so as with sport at all levels, tomorrows singles could be anyone’s to claim.

Play starts at 8.30am on the Centennial Course, Taupo Golf Club.

Foursomes results: Pascoe / Palframan (Aus) bt Holford / Syer (NZ) 2up; Dawson / Wooster (Aus) bt Boniface / Pellow (NZ) 2up; Morgan / Burke (Aus) bt Pullar / Gee (NZ) 3 and 2

Fourball results: Palframan / Dawson (Aus) bt Syer / Pellow (NZ) 5 and 4; Morgan / Pascoe (Aus) lost to Boniface / Pullar (NZ) 1 Down; Burke / Wooster (Aus) bt Gee / Holford (NZ) 3 and 2

MONDAY Single Matches as follows: 8.30am Kim Burke vs Robyn Boniface; 8.38am Sue Wooster vs Diana Dyer; 8.46am Sharon Dawson vs Robyn Pellow; 8.54am Helen Pascoe vs Brigit Holford; 9.02am Carmen Palframan vs Robyn Pullar; 9.10am Jacqui Morgan vs Julie Gee