Otago targeting longelusive first place at championships

OTAGO has named a strong team which it hopes will finally get it over the line at the national provincial championships later this month.

Otago was bridesmaid last year when it made the final, but went down 50 to Auckland.

It has finished runnerup three times in all in the past six years, and is desperate to clear the final hurdle and grab the national trophy it last won in 1982.

Back are Inia Logan and Brandon Hodgson, while Duncan Croudis also returns to the team.

Newcomers this year are Callum Judkins and Jacob Bellamy. Phil Bungard is the reserve.

Head selector Jason Hughes said it was a very tough team to pick and many golfers were in contention.

‘‘There was a lot of competition to pick what was, in the end, only a few spaces,’’ Hughes said.

‘‘There are always people who are right on the line and just miss out.’’

He said Jonny Mackay, of Cromwell, and Sungwoo Han, of Queenstown, who were in the team last year, were unlucky to miss out. Ben Patston also missed out from last year’s team.

Judkins, of Otago, had been playing some good golf of late, having made the final of the Otago matchplay championships.

Croudis returns after not making the team last year, and he would lead the side out at number five.

Hughes said the number one, three and five spots were important for the team.

Logan was playing well and would be a real asset for the team. He was like an amateur playing as a professional, Hughes said.

Hodgson and Bellamy are both big hitters, which would be an asset for the team.

The tournament starts on November 24 at the Whitford Park course in south east Auckland.

The course was opened in 1968 and is treelined, rewarding accuracy off the tee.

Hughes said the aim was to win the tournament after so many times in recent years of getting so close but coming up short.

It would be tough though, as many provinces had a lot of player depth.

The team will be accompanied by Golf Otago chief executive Mahal Pearce and managed by Kevin Galliven.

Meanwhile, the Otago masters side had two disappointing losses at the national tournament in Hamilton yesterday.

Otago number two Rodney Krahenbring, with a 3 and 2 margin, was the only Otago player to win as his side went down 41 to Tasman.

In the afternoon, playing a strong Wellington side, Otago again lost 41.

Paul Hubbard picked up the only victory with a oneup win.