Riversdale's Leith Campion came back from the dead to stay in the hunt at the Otago Matchplay Championships at the Otago Golf Club yesterday.
Down to the last-eight playoffs yesterday afternoon, Campion was in trouble, 2-down to Jacob Bellamy, of Port Chalmers, on the 15th tee.
But he proceeded to hit a hole in one on the 15th, followed by an eagle, a birdie and another birdie to finish 2-up to make this morning’s semifinals.
He also had a tight struggle with Jack Turner, of Arrowtown, yesterday morning, eventually winning 1-up.
Campion now plays Otago’s Callum Judkins, who showed good form to dispose of top qualifier Liam Hewitt, of Queens Park, 5 and 4 yesterday afternoon.
In the other semifinal, Invercargill’s Matt Tautiri takes on Ryan Bellamy, of Templeton.
Tautiri, who continues to play top-quality golf, won through with a 2 and 1 victory over Will Young, of Otago.
Bellamy, who has links to Otago and has played for the provincial team, beat Kayne Wardell 2 and 1 in the quarterfinals.
Qualifying over two rounds on Saturday was not easy as the wind picked up in the afternoon and players had variable rounds.
Hewitt was top qualifier with a 70 and 69 while Brandon Hodgson was second with a 67 and 73. Tautiri hit 141 for the two rounds to qualify third while Turner was one stroke behind in fourth.
Wardell beat Hodgson 1-up in the first round of matchplay yesterday morning.
- Gulf Harbour player James Hydes won the New Zealand Matchplay championship in Gisborne yesterday. He beat Charlie Smail 3 and 2 over 36 holes in the final.
