A feature of the Otago men's team that will compete in the national interprovincial in Nelson from December 2-6 is that four of the five players are greenkeepers.
St Clair head greens superintendent Andrew Hobbs returns to captain the team from the No 2 position, while Michael Minty, Philip Bungard and Mark Brooks ply their trade at Island Park, Chisholm Park and Kelvin Heights, respectively.
Brooks (Queenstown) is the only new cap in the team, having amassed an impressive matchplay record this year.
The 20-year-old showed promise as a schoolboy and junior golfer but faded off the scene.
This year, playing with a more mature approach, he has had some success, beginning with making the final of the South Island matchplay championship on the Levels course in Timaru at Queen's Birthday weekend.
He followed this with solid performances in the build-up interprovincial matches and impressed the selectors in Nelson last weekend.
Bungard missed the South Island event in Nelson as he was attending his grandmother's funeral in the Philippines.
He was to play at No 5 and the selectors went back to him when other players failed to take their opportunities.
Duncan Croudis, a 16-year-old Otago Boys High School pupil, will be in Nelson as the travelling reserve.
Under the new regulations, which allow for some player rotation, Croudis could make his debut in New Zealand's premiere teams event.
He beat several seasoned golfers to make the final of the Otago championship at Labour Day Weekend.
Then, playing at No 7, he finished with two wins and a half from four matches in Nelson last weekend.
