The venue could be a good omen for the Otago men's team which will begin its quest to win the New Zealand interprovincial title on the St Andrews course in Hamilton this morning.
Brent McEwan (33) made his debut at St Andrews 15 years ago, emerging with three wins and a half at No 3.
After leading the team at No 1 for more than a decade, McEwan returns to his happy hunting ground at No 3. He will captain the team this year and brings a wealth of experience to the role, having played 87 games in national events for Otago.
He leads a talented team and has high hopes for success after Otago finished fourth at North Shore last year.
Otago is in the form section with four of the top five teams from the recent Southland invitational in section two.
In particular, Otago will have to be wary of Southland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty quintets during section play.
The reshuffle has promoted Duncan Croudis into the No 1 position, while Queenstown's James Anstiss will play at No 2.
Croudis played in three interprovincial tournaments before taking up his golf scholarship at Iowa State University and remains unbeaten.
As reserve in 2008, he played one game for a half, and notched two wins and two halves the following year after arriving a day late from playing in the New Zealand under-19 team in China.
At Paraparaumu in 2010, Croudis won all seven games when Otago made the semifinals.
The changes also give Otago a sting in the tail with an accomplished matchplay exponent, Mark Brooks, at No 5.
Brooks won five out of seven games at North Shore last year, while Otago matchplay champion Nick Borren will play at No 4.
The campaign begins this morning against old foe Canterbury, which Otago beat 6 to 2 in the South Island event on the Russley course four weeks ago.
A bye this afternoon is followed by matches against Southland and Aorangi tomorrow.
McEwan rates the Southland top five highly and thinks it could be one of the toughest matches.
''If we get past Canterbury and Southland, we will be well on the way to make the playoffs,'' he said.
On Thursday morning, Otago meets Taranaki, and the side has a tough day on Friday, finishing section play against Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
