Golf: McEwan prospers in North Otago

North Otago continued to be a happy hunting ground for Brent McEwan (St Clair) when he won the 72-hole tournament by one shot from Cody Harper (Invercargill) during the weekend.

McEwan shot an 8-under-par 64 in March 2002 and went one shot better in April 2006.

But the scoring this weekend was a far cry from that standard with McEwan scoring 73, 71, 73, and 74 in wet underfoot and windy conditions.

The player of the final round was Balmacewen apprentice greenkeeper Tyrone Ratahi who, despite the toughest conditions of the weekend, was 5-under-par after 14 holes and got up for third with a 3-under 69.

Oamaru school pupil Thomas Forbes had his best career performance, finishing fourth on 296.

John Cunningham (north Otago) won the intermediate title when halfway leader Daniel Barnett (Chisholm Park) fell away after posting two 72s on Saturday.

North Otago players continued to prosper with Matthew Murphy taking the junior title.

Liam Balneaves (Greenacres) finished 3-under-par on 69 on Saturday morning to take a two-shot lead over local greenkeeper Gary Creedy and Harper.

Barnett was one further shot back on 72 while McEwan and Stephen Hitchcox (St Clair), along with Duncan Croudis (Otago,) finished tied on 73.

With a 4-over 76 in the afternoon, Balneaves relinquished the lead.

This left Harper (73), McEwan (71) and Barnett (72) tied for the overnight lead on par figures.

Balneaves was one shot back while Cunningham carded a 2-under 70 for the lowest afternoon round to join Ratahi three shots back.

It was swings and roundabouts on Sunday morning which left Harper (72) on 216, McEwan (73) on 217 and Croudis (70) on 218.

Kyle Geary (Chisholm Park) posted 69 for the best round on Sunday morning but he was still six shots back going into the final round.

In the final round, Croudis, in untypical style, had a disastrous 88 and dived out of contention.

It looked like a two-way battle but Ratahi's exceptional round put him in contention.

Ratahi had a double-bogey six on the final hole while McEwan made a birdie three to clinch the title.