"Otago golfers don't show much passion" - a quote from a young Southland golfer on the second day of the Otago matchplay championships at Balmacewen yesterday.
He was referring to Brent McEwan (St Clair) who failed to make his morning tee time and Cameron Beel (Otago) and Russell Newman (Taieri) who withdrew from the senior plate, after losing their morning championship matches.
All three were odds on to make the Otago eight-man team for the South Island interprovincial in Nelson next month, but selectors Murray (convener) and Alan Rose now have some hard decisions to make before naming the team today.
McEwan was omitted from the Otago quintet for the Southland Invitational tournament in March after failing to make a tee time earlier this year. Despite his form, the selectors now face a dilemma, as they cannot be seen to go back on the decision they made earlier this year.
There is little doubt that the Otago top five has under-performed in recent years and it is evident that attitude changes must be made.
In sharp contrast is the commitment shown by 16-year-old schoolboy Duncan Croudis (Otago) who, after qualifying eighth, beat Daniel Elder (Otago) in the morning and Philip Bungard (Chisholm Park) by 4 and 2 in the afternoon.
Croudis will meet Andrew Hobbs (St Clair) in one semifinal, while Gore schoolboy Vaughan McCall will play Michael Minty (St Clair) for the other final berth.
Hobbs beat Sean Roach (Arrowtown) in the morning and beat Paul Wright (Matamata) by 5 and 4 in the afternoon.
McCall accounted for Beel in the morning and posted a 5 and 4 margin over Simon Gallie (Otago) in the afternoon.
Minty beat Newman in the morning but had a tough match against Brad Nicholson (Arrowtown) in his quarter final match.
Liam Balnewaves (Greenacres) was top qualifier, shooting 76 on Saturday morning and returning a par 71 in atrocious conditions in the afternoon.
