The North’s opening match on Saturday at Kingston Beach will be against the North West who last year caused an upset defeating the South 6/1. It then plays Southern Country on Sunday morning before the clash of traditional rivals, the South, on Sunday afternoon.

The Northern side is Mitch Van Noord, captain, Cameron Bell, Brett Churchill, James Fiddian, Isaac Pinnington, James Pyke, Ryan Thomas and Jack Tregaskisjago. The South lines up with Joey Bower, Craig Garland, Nathan Gatehouse, Matthew Glover, Richard Kube, Andrew Phillips, Paul Read and captain Mark Schulze.

The North West has Cameron Allen, Brayden Field, Craig Hancock, Jack Lakin, Brady Ludbey, Peter Neilsen, Matthew Rose and captain Craig Walker. The Southern Country has Dijon Barrett, Oscar Burrell, Matthew Cross, Winston Johnson, John Ramsden, Roger Styles, Luke Tumney and captain Bill Wellington.

The North is also keen to retain the Karen Henry Plate trophy and has another strong team that includes Lily Caelli, Sharon Crowden, Tammy Hall, Sarah Johnstone, Zahara Lemon, Deidre Panton, Rosemary Paton, Lu Proud, Jacki Poke and captain Amanda Smith.

The Southern line up is Karen Bannister, Sally Eastwood, Sue Frith, Emma Hayter, Jane Hyland, Hallie Meaburn, Georgia Milbourne, captain Sue Richardson, Debbie Taylor and Mackenzie Wilson. The format is for match play foursomes on Saturday and singles on Sunday.

Tasmania has performed well in the Boys Interstate Matches in Perth with wins over South Australia, Northern Territory and a halved result with ACT. Prospect Vale’s Ronan Filgate was the standout performer for the series with three wins, two losses and two halved results.

Northern Golf has announced a change to the format for pennant this year in the top three divisions. With the opening two rounds having been washed out, the clubs who are likely to play in State Pennant Finals have been consulted with and the result is that divisions 1,2 and 3 will participate in a Northern final.

Divisions 2 and 3 will play their final on Sunday May 6 and the division 1 final will be on Sunday May 20 on the home course of the team finishing on top of the ladder.

To necessitate this, the division 2 match between Riverside and Prospect Vale scheduled for May 6 has been transferred to Riverside on Sunday April 29. Divisions 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 will continue the roster to completion with the top team declared the winner then playing in the handicap finals as rostered.

In Northern Women’s pennant defending division 1 champion Prospect Vale has opened up a handy lead at the halfway point of the roster and is undefeated.

In division 2 it is Prospect Vale again with the lead ahead of Mowbray and Greens Beach. Tam O’Shanter Combined team is undefeated in division 3 and Bridport Combined is undefeated in division 4.