Wardell (19), an apprentice greenkeeper at Millbrook, has just been named at No 2 in the Otago five-man team to compete in the SBS Southland Invitational tournament, on the Otatara course in Invercargill, on February 23 and 24.
He finished as the second-best Otago golfer in the Taieri Classic, which was the first strokeplay trial, and finished fourth, with a final round of 67, in the Otago strokeplay championship last month.
Wardell is a talented player who, to date, has not realised his potential, as he spent most of his time on team sports, rugby in particular, while at secondary school.
Wardell's best performance to date is finishing in second place in the World Schools golf tournament in Stellenbosch in South Africa in 2011.
As a member of the Otago Boys' High School top team, Wardell broke 300 for the first time on four different courses to win two gold medals in the 187-strong field.
Brent McEwan (St Clair) retains the No 1 position, while Wakatipu schoolboy Samson Kim will play at No 3 after making his debut in the Toro tournament, at Balmacewen in December.
Mitch Bosley (Wanaka) makes a welcome return to the top quintet after showing his strokeplay ability at Balmacewen and in the Southland strokeplay in the weekend.
Bosley will return at No 4 position while Michael (Moxy) Smith will be the team's anchor man, at the pivotal No 5 position.
Bosley has a liking for the SBS strokeplay event and has posted good results on the Otatara course in recent years.
The strength of junior golf in Queenstown is highlighted with the selection of Chadol Han (19) as the team reserve.
Brandon Hodgson (Otago) was unavailable, due to injury. Recent Otago representatives Tony Giles, Mark Collie and Jamie Anstiss have not trialled for the strokeplay event.
Ben Gallie, the convener of the selection panel, said commitment and current form had been used as the criteria for selection of the team.
Tournament rules have meant that the team has to be named now, before the Southland Island and Dunedin championships at St Clair in two weeks time.''
Although it cannot be a trial, the selection panel has expectations that those selected will play at St Clair,'' Gallie said.
Gallie has also named McEwan and Smith to represent Otago in the Grant Clements Memorial tournament on the Mount Maunganui course next weekend.
The Otago team to play in the SBS Southland Invitational is (in playing order): Brent McEwan (St Clair), Kayne Wardell (Millbrook), Samson Kim (Queenstown), Mitch Bosley (Wanaka), Michael Smith (Otago). Manager: Bill Trewern.
The Otago team to compete in the Grant Clements Memorial at Mount Maunganui next weekend is: Brent McEwan (St Clair), Michael Smith (Otago).
Strokeplay to McLean
Long-hitting Tyler McLean took the honours in the Southland strokeplay title, which was played over 72 holes at Otatara during the weekend.
With rounds of 71, 69, 77 and 70, McLean finished four shots ahead of Liam Balneaves. Southland's Jeremy Hall finished third on 293.
Mitch Bosley (Wanaka) was the best of the Otago golfers with 69, 73, 76 and 78, finishing fourth on 296.
Bosley could have finished close to the lead but dropped seven shots in the final five holes to drift off the pace.
The next two Otago golfers were Samson Kim (Queenstown) and Kayne Wardell (Millbrook) on 300 and 301 respectively.
Paul Adams, the Southland left-hander finished a further stroke back on 302, playing in his 50th Southland strokeplay tournament.
Adams, a lawyer, attended the University of Otago from 1967 to 1971 and played for Otago on two occasions.
