Golf: Mixed fortunes for Otago at interprovencial

Kyle Geary
Kyle Geary
Otago had mixed fortunes on the penultimate day of competition in the Toro Masters (over 40) men's interprovincial at Waitangi yesterday.

The team went down to the defending champion Bay of Plenty by 2 to 3 in the morning and beat Taranaki by 3 to 2 in the afternoon.

In the morning match, team manager Greg Johnson came into the team in place of Gary Creedy, who injured his back in the fifth round on Wednesday.

Under tournament rules, Johnson had to play at No 5 which meant Jeremy Morgan and Kyle Geary were promoted to No 3 and No 4 respectively.

It was Johnson's first look at the course and he went down to Bay's Jason Madden on the 15th green.

Geary was three down early in the match when his opponent, Steve Heberley, birdied the second and fourth holes.

Heberley chipped in for a birdie on the eighth and posted two more birdies on the back nine to win 4 and 3.

In contrast, Morgan thrived on his promotion in the order turning two up on Bay's No 3 Mikki Strong.

Strong had a poached egg lie in the 16th greenside bunker and when he took two explosions to get out, Morgan took the honours 3 and 2.

At No 2 Stephen Hitchcox lost the first hole but put Justin Rassmussen on the back foot by winning the next four holes.

Hitchcox birdied the eighth and 10th holes to post an impressive 6 and 5 winning margin.

Simon Boland had a tough front nine against Bay No 1 Blair Murdock but still managed a slender lead at the turn.

He lost the 11th to a birdie and went one behind with a double bogey on the 12th.

Boland trailed by one playing the final hole but lost any chance of a half when he drove out of bounds, losing two down.

Against Taranaki, Boland turned four down and despite a fightback conceded on the 14th green.

Hitchcox was always in control against Taranaki's Murray Martin posting an impressive 5 and 4 winning margin.

Morgan continued to play well at No 3, turning two up and beating Dean Baldock on the 17th green.

Geary turned three up over Dean Simpson in the afternoon and staved off a spirited challenge on the back nine. He made an impressive birdie 3 on the 17th to close out the match.

Johnson lost to Peter Elison 3 and 2 after turning two light, while Elison made birdies at 11 and 12 to put the result beyond doubt.

Creedy hit some practice balls last evening and is likely to return to No 3 position today.

Otago will play Manawatu-Wanganui this morning and old foe Southland in the final round this afternoon.

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