Young Raphael Anderson — all of 14 years old — held his nerve time and time again to give Otago every chance to lift the New Zealand men’s interprovincial trophy for the first time in 43 years.
Otago cruised into the final and then found themselves tied 2½-2½ against Bay of Plenty at the end of the final yesterday afternoon in Manawatu.
That sent the game to a playoff with Anderson and Bay of Plenty No 5 Jordan Golding heading back to the 18th hole, after halving their regular round.
The Otago No 5 showed class well beyond his years with some clutch putting and coolly walking to the hole, picking up his ball and fist pumping to the adoring crowd cheering them all on.
The Wānaka golfer sent the game to a second playoff — and then a third, and a fourth, and a fifth.
Eventually Golding sealed it for Bay of Plenty on the fifth to lift the title after a gruelling day in the baking sun.
It was an unbelievable effort from Anderson, who held his composure throughout and was called up at the last minute to the Otago team after Connor Howes was ruled out with a finger injury.
While Otago captain Duncan Croudis was gutted to come up short, he raved about Anderson’s week.
"The playoff was sensational. Unbelievable," Croudis said.
"Immensely proud of him, and that playoff and how he went.
"The crowds, the pressure, a national title on the line — it was incredible. We’re so proud of him."
Otago have had a brilliant week — especially considering they won two of their six games to finish sixth in division two last year — and beat Taranaki yesterday morning to finish second on the table and qualify for the final.
They can take a lot of heart in their performances, going unbeaten through the pool stages — only halving their opening game to Manawatu — and Ricky Kang (Otago No 1), Troy Scott (No 3) and Ben Patston (No 4), who scored a hole in one on Thursday, banded together nicely, alongside Croudis (No 2).
"Ricky Kang at one was phenomenal," Croudis said.
"He got us out of trouble, and he sort of had some awesome shots coming down the stretch early on in the week — one to get us a half against [Manawatu], and the other one to win.
"Raf was sensational. We played pretty well as a team."
The Otago women wrapped up their tournament with an eighth place finish in Ashburton yesterday.
They won two games and lost four across the four days, dropping their final game against Taranaki yesterday.
Otago replacement Liz McRae came in for Otago No 1 Yoonae Jeong yesterday, pushing Anahera Koni into the top spot.
Otago No 3 Sophia Park won her game 2 & 1 and McRae, slotting in at No 5, won her game 1-up.
North Harbour beat Auckland 4-1 to win back-to-back titles.
