Balneaves claimed the title in 2005 and 2010 and has always played well at Balmacewen where he holds the course record of 62.
Chris Snow (St Clair) won the senior plate, beating Ryan Bellamy (St Clair) 4 and 3 while Ben Patston (Otago) secured the senior B title and Troy Ferguson (St Clair) became the intermediate champion.
Jacob Bellamy (St Clair) and selection convener Jason Hughes (Otago) took the honours in the lower grade plate finals.
Susan Greig (St Clair) was a convincing winner of the women's title at the expense of Tracey Storer (Belleknowes).
Greig has dominated events this month, winning the champion of champions title and a trial event at Balmacewen.
A disappointing field of only five players for this prestigious event does not augur well for Otago's chances in the South Island Interprovincial at Balmacewen next weekend.
The front nine of the morning semifinals laid the foundation for an all-Southland final with both southerners carding a plethora of birdies.
Hellier started with four birdies, putting Michael Ormandy square with the card but four-down after as many holes.
Ormandy birdied the fifth
but his reprieve was short-lived as Hellier birdied the sixth and 10th holes and the match finished three holes later.
The match was more even between Balneaves and Brandon Hodgson until Balneaves birdied six, seven and eight to lead by four.
Hodgson nearly holed his wedge into the ninth to go back to three down and then won the 10th to be two behind.
He won the 13th with a birdie four but then returned to two-down after bogeying the par-3 15th.
Hodgson birdied the 17th but missed a short putt on the final green which would enabled him to force a playoff.
In the senior final, Balneaves took an early lead, winning the first hole with a gimme birdie four.
The pair halved the next six holes until Balneaves won the seventh and eighth holes to increase his lead to three.
Hellier birdied the 10th, won the 12th with a par and squared the match on the long Tipperary 13th hole.
Hellier took the lead for the first time birdieing the 14th and sank a 3m birdie putt on the 17th green to close out the match.
