Otago names Ormandy at No 4 to play Southland

Michael Ormandy (Otago) is the only newcomer in the top five of the Otago 10-man team to play Southland on the Oreti Sands course in Invercargill on September 30 and October 1.

Ormandy was the Sport Otago golf coach until last month, when he resigned with a view to taking up a professional apprenticeship under the guidance of Balmacewen golf director Shelley Duncan.

He has shown solid form in all  the trials, finishing in a tie for second on his former home course, North Otago, last weekend and has been named at No4.

The remaining four of the top quintet were all members of the team  that  made the Toro final in New Plymouth last December.

Fraser MacLachlan retains the No1 position and his up-and-down on the final hole against Waikato was instrumental in Otago making the final last year.

Michael Smith (Otago) is at No2 after his convincing win at North Otago last weekend and his good record at last  year’s national tournament playing at No4.

Brandon Hodgson (Otago) is at No3, while Chris Snow (St Clair) will retain the captaincy and will play at No5.

Younger players with a chance to impress are Connor Ross (St Clair) at No6, Terry Kim (Wakatipu Junior) at No9 and Matthew Crawford (St Clair) at No10.

Well-performed triallists Ben Patston (Otago) and Ryan Shuttleworth (Wanaka) were unavailable for the interprovincial clash.

Six of the promising junior players were also not considered, as they will be travelling north to compete in the national junior interprovincial at Cambridge on October 2 to 6.