The Otago strokeplay championship became a Southland benefit tournament with Jeremy Hall (Greenacres) winning the title by one shot from Liam Balneaves (Greenacres) after 72 holes in gusty conditions at Balmacewen yesterday.
Hall (25) has taken first blood in the Southland trial series to select its team for the SBS Interprovincial tournament to be played in early March.
Hall started his final round one shot ahead of Balneaves and was two under par at the turn to lead by five shots.
However, Hall did not score so well on the homeward nine and when Balneaves birdied 16 and 17, the gap was reduced to one playing the final hole.
Hall secured his par, putting from the wrong tier, leaving Balneaves a tricky downhill side-wind putt to force a playoff, but he left it short.
This is the first 72-hole win for Hall, who had previously won the Southland matchplay title in 2006.
Daniel Elder (Otago) was a runaway winner in the Senior B event with scores of 75, 75, 73 and 74, which placed him in a tie for sixth in the overall field.
The Intermediate title went to Brendan Hicks (Port Chalmers), who finished 10 shots ahead of his nearest rival.
The Masters (over-40) event was played over 36 holes, with Balmacewen's Craig West taking the honours by two shots.
Chris Snow (St Clair) took the early lead in the event with a 72 on Saturday morning, putting him one shot ahead of Brent McEwan (St Clair), Andrew Hobbs (St Clair) and Hall.
But the Southland golfers thrived in the windy conditions, with Hall shooting two-under-69 to hold the overnight lead.
But it was by a single shot from Balmacewen record-holder Balneaves, who carded a four-under-67 to lie in second place.
Vaughan McCall (Gore) and McEwan were two shots back while Cody Harper (Invercargill) shot 72, putting four Southlanders in the top five.
McEwan shot 76 and McCall 79 yesterday morning, leaving Hall and Balneaves well in front going into the final round.
