With rounds of 70 and 65, Duncan Croudis (Otago) won the top gross prize in the Lakes District Championship played over 36 holes on the Arrowtown course on Saturday.
It was his second win in this year's trial series as he headed a strong field by four shots in the 36-hole Wanaka event last month.
Croudis has a liking for the Arrowtown course as he dominated the Otago age-group championship at the venue five years ago before taking up a golf scholarship in the United States.
But Saturday's win was by a single stroke from Invercargill professional Cody Harper, who also carded an impressive 65 in the afternoon.
Nicholas Borren (Otago) was the second amateur, four shots behind Croudis on 139, while The Hills professional Craig Palmer finished fourth, one shot further back.
Palmer shot 67 in the morning round to take the lead at lunch by one shot from Borren.
Croudis was in a three-way tie for third on 70 at the halfway stage with Mark Brooks (Queenstown) and Daniel Elder (Otago) while Harper was in a handy position on 71.
But in the afternoon, Croudis and Harper attacked par and with a plethora of birdies both of the players finished on a tournament low of 65.
Next Sunday, many of Otago's top golfers will be in Oamaru competing in the provincial pennant finals, while the next trial will be at Balmacewen with the Otago matchplay championships during Labour Day weekend.
Unfortunately the Otago matchplay clashes with an event in Christchurch which is the only South Island Charles Tour tournament and will attract many of Otago's top players away from the Balmacewen tournament.
At the conclusion of these events selection convener Greg Johnson will name 10 players to compete in the South Island interprovincial teams tournament at Russley on November 1-2.
