Canterbury finished with four points and 22.5 games to win the South Island women's interprovincial tournament over four rounds on the North Otago course in Oamaru during the weekend.
Otago finished in second place with three points and 21.5 games after losing the crucial decider 5-3 to Canterbury.
These two teams were dominant against Aorangi, Southland and Tasman and, despite losing three players from last year's team, Otago looks set to continue the improvement it showed in the national event last year.
Otago No2 Jo Hicks-Beach made her debut last year and has developed her game during the past 12 months. She reaped the reward, winning all four of her matches.
Hicks-Beach (Arrowtown) hails from England but her golf has gone from strength to strength since she moved to Central Otago.
St Hilda's Collegiate pupil Laura Hoskin was up to the task of playing at No1, emerging with three wins, including a valuable win over favoured Canterbury No1 Elisha Crosbie.
She played solid golf to be dormie two and won the penultimate hole to win 3 and 1.
Otago No8 June Watson emerged unbeaten with three wins and a half with Tasman's Emily Greenhough.
The next fixture on the calendar for Otago leading women will be the Otago matchplay championship at Balmacewen next weekend.
