The demotion of Brent McEwan (St Clair) from No1 to No3 is the feature of the Otago men's golf team announced yesterday by selection convener Greg Johnson.
McEwan has played in the top spot for more than a decade but will this year be replaced by Duncan Croudis (Otago) in the Toro Interprovincial, which will be played in Hamilton during the first week of December.
McEwan has a good record at No1 but last year at North Shore suffered from golfing fatigue and did not live up to his own standards.
McEwan will play at No3 this year and will still lead the team as captain on the St Andrews course.
With his recent marriage to Shannon and with one son and another on the way, McEwan feels he cannot commit the same time to his game as in recent years.
He intends to play representative golf for one more year and will play his 100th Toro game for Otago on the Otatara course in Invercargill in 2015.
He will be a force to reckon with at No3 and the revamping of the team order could pay dividends in Hamilton.
A solid tail of Mark Brooks at No5, Nick Borren at No4 and McEwan at No3 could put Otago in the driving seat early in its matches.
''McEwan still has all of the skills but there is nothing to say that the top player must compete at No1,'' Greg Johnson said after announcing the new order.
''The selectors feel that with this talented team, this order may best serve the team well.''
The top five were never in doubt but with McEwan's wish to drop down the order, key decisions had to be made.
''Mark Brooks was keen to play at No5 but there were three other players who could have all taken on the top berth,'' Johnson said.
The selection trio decided on Croudis, who returned to Otago this year after completing his degree at Iowa State University.
James Anstiss (Otago) will retain the No2 position and Brandon Hodgson (Otago) will be the team reserve.
The team has high hopes of a win in Hamilton, as this team is a much better match play quintet, having already won the triangular and South Island events this year.
The team is (in playing order):Duncan Croudis (Otago), James Anstiss (Otago), Brent McEwan (St Clair) captain, Nick Borren (Otago), Mark Brooks (Queenstown).
Reserve: Brandon Hodgson (Otago).
