The Otago men's golf team had a mixed day playing the first two rounds of the Freyberg Masters (over-40) men's interprovincial which began on the Coringa course in Christchurch yesterday.
In the morning, Otago dominated Poverty Bay-East Coast, winning all five matches, with some convincing margins.
But in the afternoon Otago came up against its nemesis, Southland, having lost to the Southerners in the triangular in Cromwell last month.
In the morning, No 1 John McIntee lost the first two holes but then won four in a row, beating Ian Murphy on the 16th green.
In the afternoon, he was no match for Southland's Karl Mariu, who took the lead with birdies on 6 and 7 on the front nine.
At No 2, Simon Boland also had a win and a loss, posting a 7 and 5 margin over Bruce Yates in the morning.
But Southland evergreen Blair Sinclair took the honours in the afternoon when Boland's putter let him down.
St Clair greenkeeper Andrew Hobbs thrived at No 3 with two wins - a 7 and 6 margin over Poverty Bay's Simon Jeune in the morning.
In the afternoon Hobbs started eagle-birdie-par to be three up and he never let the Southland No 3 back into the game.
Greg Johnson (No 4) had a win in the morning but met left-handed Paul Adams in the afternoon and, despite eagling the first hole, went down on the penultimate hole.
It was a day for greens staff, with North Otago's Gary Creedy joining Hobbs in the winners' circle.
After a slow start in the morning, Creedy fought back to be square at the turn and parred home on the back nine to win on the 16th green.
In the afternoon he got off to a flier and was four up after five holes, giving Southland's former No 1, Gary Radka, little chance.
Otago has a bye this morning and will meet the strong Canterbury outfit in the afternoon.
