Daniel Perham (Highfield) came out of "retirement" to beat Timaru schoolboy Tim Leonard in the final to win the South Island senior matchplay title on the Levels course in Timaru yesterday.
Perham (29) was a regular on the Aorangi golf scene, competing in nine national interprovincial tournaments before putting the clubs in the closet four years ago.
"I was golfed out and needed a break and I have got married in the meantime," Perham said.
But he was back with a vengeance yesterday, birdieing three of the first four holes.
Perham kept the momentum going to lead by four at the turn, eventually winning with four holes to spare.
Duncan Croudis (Otago) was a first-round loser but went on to win the senior plate by winning his next three matches.
He beat Phil Bungard (Chisholm Park) in the all-Otago final by an impressive 4 and 3 margin.
The only other Otago success was when Thomas Facer parred the final hole to beat Queenstown's Cory Finn and win the intermediate plate.
Two other Otago finalists lost by the narrowest of margins.
Kayne Wardell (Alan Grange) lost to Andrew Lobb (Weedons) when he missed a short putt on the final green to lose the junior title.
Liam Balneaves (Southland) returned to his birdieing form which helped him score a record 62 at Balmacewen earlier this year.
He trailed Travis Applegarth (Otago) by two at the turn in the consolation final but four birdies later, took the title on the first play-off hole.
