Golf: In-form Otago among teams favoured to win title

Otago will be out to score the double when the top quintet tees off against Taranaki this afternoon in the 2015 national interprovincial tournament on the Otatara course in Invercargill.

The same men's team won the SBS strokeplay title on the same course two weeks ago and the 28-stroke winning margin has resulted in Otago being installed as one of the favoured teams to win this event.

This year has been one of the best for Otago men with the under-19 and under-16 combination also winning the junior event in Cambridge two months ago.

But this tournament will be much tougher as the trials and tribulations of matchplay golf can provide little between a win or a loss.

The players are keen for success to give national interprovincial veteran Brent McEwan a memorable send-off in his last appearance, which will include his 100th game in the event.

Having finished as runner-up last year at St Andrews in Hamilton, Otago has a bye in round one this morning and, after playing Taranaki this afternoon, meets Auckland and Tasman tomorrow.

On Thursday, Otago plays Hawkes Bay while section play comes to an end on Friday with Northland and Wellington as the final opponents.

The top two in each section gain places in the semifinals on Saturday morning, the winners fighting it out for the title on Saturday afternoon.

Convener Greg Johnson and his panel opted for the same five players who won the SBS event but the order has changed. Duncan Croudis is now at No 1, McEwan at No 3 and Chris Snow anchors the team at the crucial No 5 position.

Otago won this event at Russley in 1973, Taupo in 1978 and Balmacewen in 1982.

The current team brought a 35-year SBS strokeplay drought to an end two weeks ago and now faces the task of bringing a 33-year interprovincial drought to an end.

Southland won the event in Gisborne in 2011 but has lost Cody Harper to the professional ranks, while Liam Balneaves is overseas.

The team should still start as favourite playing at home but the absence of Mat Tautari and Tyler McLean will cost Southland dearly.

Other teams to watch are Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, North Harbour, Waikato, Manawatu-Wanganui and Wellington.

Since the SBS event, 2013 interprovincial winner Manawatu-Wanganui has been strengthened considerably with the return of Josh Munn playing at No 1.

Waikato also has a stronger line-up with Sam Vincent coming in at No 4 after sitting his NCEA examinations while the SBS event was held.

 

 


National interprovincial
Otatara, starting today

Otago: Duncan Croudis 1, Nick Borren 2, Brent McEwan 3, Fraser MacLachlan 4, Chris Snow 5.

Draw: v Taranaki, Tuesday afternoon, v Auckland, Wednesday morning, v Tasman, Wednesday afternoon, v Hawkes Bay, Thursday morning, v Northland, Friday morning, v Wellington, Friday afternoon.


 

 

Add a Comment