Experienced hands hold off teen challenge

BY NATHAN BURDON

THE two Robyns put on a master class of ladies golf in the final of the Stead Cup at Invercargill's Queens Park yesterday. But it was a bright appearance from youngster Laura Hoskin that provided the talking points.

Robyn Boniface (Queens Park) won the afternoon final against good friend and perennial sparring partner Robyn Pullar (Invercargill), 4 and 2, after an absorbing round of golf.

Earlier in the day Boniface had comfortably accounted for Bernene Butler (Dunedin) 9 and 8 in one semifinal, but Pullar was pushed all the way by 14-year-old Hoskin in her semifinal.

Hoskin eventually three-putted on the second extra hole to bow out of the tournament, a result she was disappointed with after playing the last 10 holes of the semifinal at two under the card.

"She just keeps on going," Pullar said of Hoskin. "She's got a really solid hit. She's a real up-and-coming player for her province."

Hoskin is the daughter of former Southland Hawke Cup and Otago first-class cricketer Richard Hoskin, the chief executive of Sport Southland.

A boarder at St Hildas in Dunedin, she represents Otago at interprovincial level and plays out of the Arrowtown and Balmacewen clubs.

In the final, Boniface birdied the first hole to take an early advantage, but from there it was an even contest. Boniface came close to an ace on the 12th when her drive hit the pin.

By the 15th Boniface was two up and she clinched the match in clinical style on the next hole with a birdie.

It's the 13th time in all she has had her name on the 90-year-old trophy and the fourth time in succession.

Pullar won the Cup in 2005 when Boniface was recovering from shoulder surgery.

RESULTS

Stead Cup: Winner R Boniface (Queens Park), runner-up R Pullar (Invercargill). Beaten semifinalists: B Butler (Dunedin), L Hoskin (Arrowtown).

Stead Cup plate: Winner S Elder (Te Anau), runner-up G Smith (Wanaka).

Stead Cup flight: Winner L Mitchell (Lumsden), runner-up D McEwan (Queens Park).

Queens Park handicap: Winner B Frost (Chisholm Park), runner-up L Harvey (Green Acres). Beaten semifinalists: G O'Rorke (Queens Park), J Raines (Queens Park).

Ann Frobath trophy: Winner M Deans (Roxburgh), runner-up G Sinclair (Queens Park).

Amateur Sports Trust Cup: Winner N Anderson (Queens Park), runner-up L Bartlett (Otago). Beaten semifinalists: J Shields (Chisholm Park), N Mitchell (Wydham).

Amateur Sports Trust Cup plate: Winner P Cracknell (Invercargill), runner-up V Kerr (Riverton).

Ida Barron Memorial Trophy: Winner J Mexted (Green Acres), runner-up G Richards (Dunedin). Beaten semifinalists: L Suddaby (Queens Park), B Reid (Allan Grange).

- © Fairfax NZ News