The selectors have made a strategic move by placing Queenstown's Mark Brooks at No5 in the Otago men's team to compete in the national interprovincial tournament on the North Shore in the first week in December.
Brooks is making a return to competitive golf after a stint overseas and was unbeaten with two wins and two halves at No2 in the South Island teams event at the weekend.
He is clearly ranked as Otago's second-best golfer behind No1 and captain Brent McEwan, but selectors Greg Johnson (convener), Michael Smith and Craig Palmer believe his impact at No5 could help Otago gain one of its best placings in recent years.
The No5 golfers tee off first and the selection panel is banking on Brooks winning most, if not all, of his matches.
If this move pays off, Otago's opposition will have the unenviable task of winning three of the following four games to win the contest.
In the triangular, Brooks won both his games, and the dogged match player had to play all 18 holes to finish as one of five unbeaten players in the South Island event at Methven.
The move promotes Nick Borren to No2, which is no big change, as he won his first three games at No3 in Methven.
University student Sean Masters will be at No3 after losing his first two games on Saturday but finishing with a 50% record with two good wins on Sunday.
Jamie Anstiss (Otago) remains at No4 for the national event and will follow Brooks in the next playing group.
Having won the Otago matchplay championship on the Balmacewen course at Labour Weekend, Kayne Wardell has been chosen as the travelling reserve.
Wardell had a tough weekend on a fiery course in Methven but finished strongly to retain his No6 berth.
Former Otago No1 and New Zealand Amateur Championship winner Ben Gallie will bring all of his expertise to coach the team on the North Shore course, which should be to the liking of the southern golfers.
Otago team
For interprovincial
Brent McEwan (St Clair, captain), Nick Borren (Otago), Sean Masters (Otago), Jamie Anstiss (Otago), Mark Brooks (Queenstown). Travelling reserve: Kayne Wardell (Queenstown).
