This year’s Pollock Cup starts this Sunday at Pegasus Golf Club and will have a new look to it with some off-season player movement between clubs, some new faces to Pollock Cup and several of our top women golfers missing after turning professional since last year’s competition.
A new look Russley team without Hillary O’Connor, who has turned professional and Maddie May who they meet as opposition first up, play Clearwater. Russley will have Jasmine Clancy, Alisia Ren, Imports Kawhena Rangihaeata (Avondale) and Lynn Brand (Harewood) at the top of their order together with Louise Hegan and Pollock Cup debutantes Jaimee Leach, Rachel Cox, Mihee Woo and teenager Zaria Bourne who will be looking to start the season on a high note. Clearwater, while also losing Amelia Garvey to the pro ranks, look formidable right through their line-up with the addition of Maddie May, imports Catherine Knight (Methven) and Joanne Kent (Rangiora), Rachel Eder, Virginia Faass, Lynda Vieceli, Justine Sheppard, Di Kay, Jo Carolan and Julie Battersby, and will have their sights firmly on the silverware.
Waitikiri meet last year’s runner-up Christchurch in round 1 and both squads have a settled look to them, with few changes from 2020. Waitikiri are without Suzette Eastmond, but welcome back Kim Moggach at No.1 after a year away and ‘import sisters’ Nicky Muir (Hororata) and Ginny Bolderston (Geraldine). Chris Marple, Jenny Clarke, Lynley Watts, Helen Smith, Rosalie Neaves, Kate Lagan and Fay McCarthy provide depth and experience at this top level. Waitikiri will have their hands full against a Christchurch outfit looking to go one better this year, and their 2020 Final line-up of Canterbury Captain Catherine Bell, Olive Tapu, Melissa Newburn, Nicola Webb, import Marg-Mary Coughlan (Mt Nessing) and Mel Brew remain the nucleus of their side. They also welcome back Monica Tulisi from Australia and together with Ina Lee-Hall and Jennifer Cho will give the competition a real shake.
Hosts and current Champions Pegasus have the bye first up, and will be missing Momoka Kobori at the top of their order this year after she turned professional, also teenager Yoyo Fu has returned to China and Karen De Lautour has moved to the North Island. Amy Weng, Deanna Matthews, Sally Rossiter and Bobbi Oliver will anchor the top order and with imports Debbie Scott (Harewood) and Lyn Robertson (Amberley) together with Sharon Stewart and Clare Stevens, the North Canterbury club boasts a great mix of youth and experience and are very capable of testing any side.
With a number of player changes, debutantes and current representative players at the top of orders in this year’s competition, Pollock Cup promises to provide some intriguing match ups over the next couple of months.
Don’t miss the action and you can click here for the full draw, which concludes with the Final at Harewood Golf Club on 7 November.
