Defending champions Auckland will be without their champion Cecilia Cho for today's opening round of the Women's Interprovincial Golf Championships in Wellington.
The 16-year-old New Zealand and Australian amateur champion will be flying back from China where she added a further title to her growing international career.... the annual Aaron Baddeley Junior International.
Cho will line up for Auckland in their third round match against Hawke's Bay.
Auckland, as defending champions, have the bye in this morning's opening round.... they will need to call on reserve Emily Eng to replace Cho at number one for their afternoon clash against Southland.
Meanwhile Auckland are chasing their 20th provincial victory in Wellington this week, after beating arch-rivals North Harbour last year in a classic final which went to a sudden-death play-off.
Waikato, North Harbour and hosts Wellington appeal as the most likely teams to thwart the defending champion.
Miramar has only hosted the New Zealand tournament on one previous occasion and that was 56 years ago. That venue provided Bay of Plenty (then combined with Thames Valley) with its first national crown.
