McEwan started his golf at the Waldronville course as a youngster and admitted winning the Wray Trophy will hold its own special place among his golfing feats.
Despite the small field of 23, organisers were happy with the inaugural event which was run by the senior players within the club. The number of Otago representatives taking their place in the field was pleasing and the players’ feedback is already positive.
Scoring in Saturday’s qualifying was modest —only three players bettered par and beat the 18 gross stableford par score. Ryan Bellamy (St Clair) claimed the No1 seeding with 20 points while Island Park greenkeeper Michael Minty headed newly appointed New Zealand Golf selector Michael Ormandy (St Clair) at the chipping green to gain 19 points.
Sunday’s morning matchplay was not a happy hunting ground for some . Following byes, Minty and Ormandy were bundled out in round 2 by McIntee and Nick Borren (Otago) respectively.
Top seed Bellamy overcame Monty Wong (Island Park) in round 2 before falling first victim in a chip off to Moxy Smith (Otago). This left a McEwan versus Smith semifinal while, on the other side of the draw, Brent Butler (Chisholm Links) defeated Borren by chip-off in the quarterfinal to clinch a spot in the final grouping versus the dogged McIntee.
With temperatures pushing 30degC, it was the resolute McIntee who stayed cool under pressure defeating Butler on the eighth. Another match threatened to go to the chip-off zone before McEwan holed out for par and progress towards another title.
But it was not plain sailing for McEwan, who trailed McIntee for most of the final before levelling the scores with a birdie at the eighth hole. After closing out for par on the last, McEwan had one hand on the trophy until McIntee drained a 5m putt for par to take the tournament into the chip-off zone. With only four golfers, including in the qualification round, managing to pitch inside 2m, it was McEwan who landed the knockout blow, lipping out and finishing 30cm from the hole. McIntee was gallant in defeat firing the next best pitch for the weekend, inside 1m to finish runner-up.
Smith defeated Butler to claim third place on the last hole and complete an epic 40-plus hole marathon for the final four players.
- Michael Minty
