And then there were two. Otago Daily Times correspondent Michael Minty looks ahead to the Dunedin Metropolitan golf final this weekend.
If it was a movie script, there would be two fairy-tale endings for the Senior A pennant season finale at St Clair on Sunday.
The one where the best team all season deservedly gets the spoils after seven years of no titles, or the other where the team that has fought tooth and nail to just make the semifinals and overcome the underdog status again becomes the champion.
How they got there
Saints
Coasted all year. They led the competition from start to finish, and only lost two games.
The team has come a long way in the past couple of years and is a far cry from previous, more experienced St Clair line-ups where most of the team were over 30.
Their form illustrates these Saints are in the middle of a pennant-flag-winning window.
Bombers
Clearly suffered from various team changes week to week, combined with arguably the toughest draw to start the season.
They found themselves languishing at the bottom of the table for most of the season until they were able to settle on their best side.
Once in the semis, they always looked a 50:50 chance of making the final, defeating their clubmates last week to have another shot at glory.
The match-ups
No 6
Matt Crawford v Luke Murdoch
The enigmatic Crawford leads out the Saints in his favoured front-running role against one of the competition’s best-performed players.
Murdoch is at the top of his game and his relaxed attitude to golf is a far cry from the fiery former Oamaru junior, who at times got a little hot under the collar. Crawford, on the other hand, plays his best when the head noise is at a minimum and the birdies flow.
No 5
Cody McMullan v Brandon Hodgson
One of those games that looks like it will go deep.
Hodgson is coming into form at the right time, McMullan hasn’t missed a beat and both players finished strongly last week.
Hodgson’s long game could be a help or hindrance but St Clair is not a long course, and the calm demeanour of McMullan will help him plot his way around the course.
No 4
Tony Giles v Duncan Croudis
Two of the most experienced players face off in a match that has 18 holes written all over it.
Giles is the last man standing from St Clair’s Dad’s Army era — when Croudis was emerging as a stand-out junior.
Giles could be compared to former Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid, otherwise known as ‘‘The Wall’’, and be extremely hard to crack unless Croudis gets the putter going and stays out of trouble.
No 3
Jacob Bellamy v Ben Patston
Novak v Rafa — big-hitting righty v big-hitting lefty.
There’s every chance these two will find themselves fairways apart, only catching up for a chat on each green.
Both have performed well this season with different approaches to the game. Patston is a prolific trainer who spends every available hour working on his game while Bellamy’s relaxed, free-swinging demeanour may give him the advantage around his home track.
No 2
Parker Aluesi v Callum Judkins
Could be teammates in December so both have a bit more on the line here.
Judkins’ form has been up and down this year and was found out last week, losing his semifinal match.
Aluesi has been the standout player of the series and there’s no reason why that shouldn’t translate to a positive result here should he remain composed.
No 1
Ryan Bellamy v Dylan Stock
Stock is an interesting selection at No1 after coming in off the bench for the later stages of the season but performing well. He boasts confidence, so getting up early will be key.
Bellamy should be match-hardened after being defeated by Matt Tautari last week and has his final hit-out before returning to Christchurch to begin a Woodward Cup campaign with Templeton.
How it unfolds
It has been seven long years since St Clair was Senior A champion. This might be St Clair’s year, but it won’t come easy.
While this Bombers team is not the one that was stacked with Otago representatives, it will not shirk the fight and will gladly lap up the underdog tag.
The Saints don’t need to change anything but they need to ensure they don’t let the occasion get to them.
Prediction
Saints 4½-1½.
Dunedin Metropolitan
Final
- St Clair Saints v Otago Bombers
- St Clair Golf Club
- Sunday, 11am
