Consistency has paid off for Tom Brockelsby (Royal
Wellington) who yesterday added a 66 to Thurday's 67 to be at
9-under-par and take the lead at the halfway stage of the
South Island men's championship.
Simon Brownlee (Gulf Harbour) set a course record of 63 to
take the lead after the first round of the South Island men's
championship on the St Clair course in Dunedin yesterday.
In the wake of the New Zealand Open at The Hills last week,
the feast of top golf continues with the South Island men's
and women's championship at St Clair in Dunedin next week.
Brent McEwan (St Clair) carded a birdie 3 on the 17th hole to
beat Scott Prince (Queenstown) on the first hole of a playoff
and win the Otago strokeplay title at Balmacewen yesterday
afternoon.
There is an air of confidence in the future of Otago golf on
the eve of the Speights Otago strokeplay championships, which
will be played over four rounds on the Balmacewen course this
weekend.
Twenty-four of Otago's most promising juniors will compete
with professionals in a challenge on the The Hills course in
Arrowtown before the Michael Hill New Zealand Open next week.
Andrew Namkoong, the Canterbury No 1, sank a 3m birdie putt
on the final green yesterday to halve with Brent McEwan and
sink Otago's chance of making this morning's semifinal of the
men's interprovincial tournament in Palmerston North.
Today will be crucial for Otago's chances of making the
semifinals as it meets Canterbury this morning and North
Harbour this afternoon on the final day of section play in
the men's interprovincial tournament in Palmerston North.
Bay of Plenty and Wellington, the most successful golf
districts in recent times, forged to the front on another wet
day in the national men's interprovincial teams event in
Palmerston North yesterday.
Otago made an impressive start on day one of the men's
interprovincial team tournament which began in difficult
conditions in Palmerston North yesterday.
