Antony McCullough took top honours in the Greg Turner Tour junior order of merit for 2011 by scoring a total of 161 to tie for third in the final two rounds which were played on The Hills and Millbrook last Thursday and Friday.
The Chisholm Park youngster is about to embark on a golfing experience in Canada for the next six months and his win is a pleasing finale as he departs the junior ranks.
But the win was by the narrowest of margins as he finished a single point clear of Queenstown's Jamie Anstiss.
After 19 events in 2011, Anstiss went into last week's final with a four-point lead over Thomas Facer (Otago), while McCullough started in third place, eight points off the pace.
Facer has moved to Tasman and did not play in the final event.
Anstiss struck water trouble at Millbrook and opened the door for McCullough, shooting 84 and 83 in the final two rounds.
In the final, McCullough tied for third with Kayne Wardell (Otago) to share the 350 points for third and fourth but Anstiss would have won if Wardell had not missed a short putt on the final green, giving McCullough an extra 25 points.
Samson Kim (Queenstown) was the leading player at the final with 77 and 74 but was too far back to make any impression.
But he has been in superb form this year and is favoured to take the 2012 title as he holds a healthy 70-point lead at this stage.
The order of merit is no doubt improving junior golf in Otago and a total of $3400 in prizes has been allocated to the leading players in the 2011 event.
The money can be spent only on coaching or travel and accommodation to compete in away tournaments which will give leading juniors more experience.
