Two 40th birthday parties have given the Otago team a good chance of featuring in the national masters (over 40) interprovincial tournament to be held in Gisborne on November 3-7.
Gary Creedy (North Otago) and Stephen Hitchcox (St Clair) will make their debuts in the five-strong Otago team, which was named by selector Bill Grant yesterday.
Creedy won all three games in the sub-association match and has a good matchplay record in the recent Otago Coastal pennant series.
The North Otago greenkeeper will play at No 1 and has the ability to take on the best in the country.
The other newcomer, Hitchcox, will play at No 5 position and for several years he has posted an enviable matchplay record within his St Clair Club and in pennant matches.
His placement at the No 5 position can only be described as strategic.
Being the first player on the course each round, he should provide the team with an excellent start.
The other three players, Ken Shaw (Taieri), Greg Johnson (St Clair) and John Cunningham (North Otago), are well versed in masters golf.
The non-travelling reserve is Sean Geary (Chisholm Park), who is another newcomer to the masters scene.
Otago won one of the early masters interprovincial tournaments but, as the event became more popular, many provinces have fielded past provincial and New Zealand representatives.
However, this is a very solid line-up and a second title would not be a surprise.
• The team (in playing order):
Gary Creedy (North Otago), Ken Shaw (Taieri), Greg Johnson (St Clair), John Cunningham (North Otago) and Stephen Hitchcox (St Clair).
