Otago needs wins against Southland, Tasman today
OTAGO will need two wins today in the men’s Toro interprovincial tournament in the final two section games on the Clearwater course in Christchurch if the team is to have a chance of making the playoffs.
Otago will play Southland this morning which could become a grudge match after Scott Hellier switched allegiance to Otago this year.
The South Island derby continues this afternoon, with Otago playing Tasman in its quest to make the top four.
Otago will need some assistance to achieve this aim, requiring Auckland and/or Taranaki to beat secondplaced Northland today.
The other division has developed into a dog fight, with Canterbury and Wellington tied on seven points.
ManawatuWhanganui is the dark horse in the division with seven points after finishing with the wooden spoon last year.
Otago had a narrow win over Hawke’s Bay yesterday. Bay’s No 1, Mako Thompson, finished strongly to beat Inia Logan on the 15th green. At No 2, Callum Judkins had his first win of the week, accounting for Thomas Alderson with two holes to spare.
Judkins trailed by one at the turn but finished strongly on the homeward nine to take the honours.
Team captain Brandon Hodgson had a strong performance, beating Tyson Tawera by a resounding 6 and 5 margin yesterday.
Jack Turner was embroiled in a tight contest with Te Cohney Whitehouse after turning square but finished strongly to take the honours on the 17th green.
At No 5, Hellier was down early and never managed to get back into the game, going down to Bay’s Russell Mitchell by 3 and 2.
Jang Hyun Lee (Auckland No 2), Dale Clarke (Northland No 2) and Jonathan Cane (Wellington No 4) all go on to the final section day with the maximum of four wins and are on target to be awarded player of the tournament.
Hodgson (Otago No 3) and Jared Edwards (Auckland No 1) are unbeaten at this stage with three wins and one half each.