He finished five shots ahead of his clubmate Kevin Koong. Tom Parker (Christchurch) took third place and Matthew McLean (Harewood) came in fourth.
Inia Logan was the best of the Otago golfers, finishing in a tie for fifth with Ireland’s Jack Pierse.
In sharp contrast, the women’s event was a one-horse race, with Amelia Garvey (Kaiapoi) shooting three rounds of 68 to take a 19-shot lead going into the final round.
Despite an uncharacteristic 79 in the final round, she still finished 12 shots ahead of Juliana Hung (Russley) to take the title.
Hutson (20) has represented North Harbour in the past three Toro tournaments but has made his mark during the past four months, winning the Auckland stroke play in November and now the South Island and Dunedin titles during the weekend.
He finished 18 under par and is displaying his best form on the eve of departing for Melbourne to compete in the Riversdale Cup. Tom Parker took the first-round lead with a faultless 64, which included five birdies and an eagle 3 on the 10th hole. He was one shot ahead of Hutson, who had seven birdies and a bogey 5 at the 12th, while Inia Logan made six birdies in his 66. Jack Pierse, Robbie Pierse, Kevin Koong and Nic Kay all started strongly tied for fourth on 67.
Jack Pierse made seven birdies on Saturday afternoon to share the overnight lead with Parker, while Hutson was one shot back on 134.
Kevin Koong was on 135 and Robbie Pierse on 137, while Otago’s best hope, Inia Logan, carded 72 to drop back in a tie for sixth.
Hutson made his move yesterday morning with a five-under-par 66 for a three-shot buffer over Parker and Jack Pierse, while Matthew McLean and Kevin Koong remained five shots off the pace.
But in the final round, Hutson made birdies on 4, 5 and 9 and an eagle 3 at the 10th to go five under par to shut the door in the chasers’ faces. His only blemish was a bogey 4 on the 13th, but he chipped in for a birdie 2 on the 16th to finish five under on 66.
