Golf: Anstiss shows he will be missed

James Anstiss
James Anstiss
Otago golf can only lament the departure of James Anstiss (Queenstown) after he romped to a five-shot win in the Otago men's championship over 72 holes at Balmacewen during the weekend.

Anstiss (19) will leave within the next two weeks to take up a golf scholarship at Southeastern Louisiana University but scored 68, 69, 67 and 75 for a 5-under-par total before his departure.

He played at No 2 in the Otago team which finished second in the interprovincial last December but will not be available for Otago teams until he completes his scholarship.

''I have spent a lot of time on my game during the last two weeks and feel that I am in good form,'' Anstiss said.

Daniel Elder (Otago) posted one of his best performances to finish second while five-time winner Brent McEwan (St Clair) could not add to his tally after winning the event for the past three years.

He finished in a tie for third with Mark Brooks (Queenstown), who continued the solid form he displayed in the interprovincial in December.

Balmacewen professional Shelley Duncan was the star in the women's event with 78 and a 72 yesterday to lead the field.

She scored two birdies, 15 pars and one bogey in her sub-par 72 but her professional status prevented her from taking the title.

Honours went to Olivia Frost (Lumsden), who finished three shots ahead of Robyn Pullar (Invercargill) while promising junior Annabel Evans (Port Chalmers) was a creditable third, seven shots off the pace.

Former Otago representative Mark Andrews (Taieri Lakes) took the honours in the men's masters (over-40) event, finishing two shots ahead of Kyle Geary (Chisholm Park), Brett McCormack (Otago) and Andrew Hobbs (Island Park).

In the senior event, Anstiss and Brooks shared the honours after the first round finishing 3-under on 68.

Anstiss made an impressive start with birdies on three, five and eight, going 5-under with an eagle two at the infamous Glen hole. In sharp contrast, he made three bogeys coming home with one solitary birdie on the final hole.

Brooks made five birdies in the first 10 holes but played the back nine 1-over after dropping shots at the 11th and 12th.

Anstiss continued his sub-par form in the afternoon finishing 2-under on 69 for a five-shot overnight lead on Brooks.

Brooks remained in second place with a disappointing 74 on Saturday afternoon while McEwan improved from sixth to third with a par round.

Anstiss increased his lead to seven yesterday morning with a 4-under 67.

This time it was Balmacewen's Elder who leapfrogged Brooks with an impressive 67 to take second place. Elder turned 1-under but birdied the par-5 13nth and made an eagle two on the par-4 17th to finish 4-under.

Brook scored 70 share third place with McEwan who posted another par roundIn the final round, Anstiss turned square but, as the wind freshened, he hit some wayward shots on the final nine holes. However, his 75 was sufficient to take the honours.

 

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