Bay of Plenty scored six points and 27 games to win the Freyberg Masters (over-40) men's interprovincial tournament on the Ngamotu course in New Plymouth yesterday.
The Bay finished ahead of Hawkes Bay, and Canterbury was the top South Island team, finishing third.
Otago finished with three points and 17 games to finish in 10th place.
Otago had a mixed day, halving with the winning Bay team in the morning but going down to Southland by 1 to 4 in the afternoon.
In the morning round, the Otago tail wagged which helped the team grab a half with the strong Bay of Plenty team.
Reserve Kyle Geary replaced Gary Creedy in the contest and with the help of two early birdies and only nine putts for the nine holes, he turned one in front.
Although he was never behind at any stage, he had to halve the 18th hole to ensure the win over Jason Madden.
At No4, Greg Johnson won three of the first four holes and birdied the ninth hole to turn four up on Bryan Pirani.
Johnson lost the first two holes on the homeward nine but responded with five consecutive pars to close out the match.
Simon Boland had a valuable half with Steve Heberley after winning the second with a birdie but losing the third to a birdie.
The pair halved the next eight holes in pars until Boland broke the stalemate, winning the 12th and 13th holes.
But this work was undone when his tee-shot at 14 went out of bounds and he three-putted on the 17th green.
Otago No1 Andrew Hobbs lost to Darryn Lowans on the 15th green after turning one behind and losing two holes early on the back nine.
Bay's Blair Murdock accounted for Steven Hitchcox with one hole to spare, despite Hitchcox making two early birdies.
Hitchcox was one up at the turn but Murdock birdied the 14th while Hitchcox lost 15, 16 and 17.
Hobbs was the only winner in the afternoon, posting a barrage of birdies to down Southland's Karl Mariu on the 17th green.
Hitchcox was square at the turn but lost four holes in a row on the back nine, handing the win to Craig O'Rourke.
Boland lost to Gary Radka on the final green, while Johnson went down to left-handed Paul Adams, who has represented Southland for more than 50 years.
Geary found himself four down after the first four holes but steadied his game, eventually losing to Glen Sutherland on the 15th green.
