Match play results count

Inia Logan.
Inia Logan.
The Otago men’s golf selectors placed a great deal of emphasis on match play records when they  picked the eight-man team to compete in the South Island interprovincial teams tournament at St Clair on November 4-5.

The initial trials followed the stroke play format but the last two outings — the triangular teams event and the Otago match play championships — have given the players the opportunity to show their match play skills.

South Island champion Fraser MacLachlan (Millbrook) will play at No1 and Inia Logan (Wakatipu Junior) will take the second team berth.

Neither player has been available for the two match play events as they have been competing in national events but their selection in the top positions is beyond question.

Logan (17) amassed a good record in the junior interprovincial at Cambridge last month, beating five out of six of the top under-19 golfers in the event.

His only loss was to fellow New Zealand junior representative Henry Spring (Bay of Plenty) in the third round.

Chris Snow (St Clair),  a key member of last year’s winning SBSBank team,  he will play at No3 this year, as well as captaining the octet.

Brandon Hodgson (Otago) played in the top eight last year but failed to make the top quintet. He is better placed this year at No4, after winning the Otago plate in style last weekend after his first round exit.

At No5, Michael (Moxy) Smith (Otago) makes a welcome return to representative golf after winning one triangular match and beating Southland’s Matt Tautari last weekend. Smith last played in the top team when the Toro interprovincial was played at Balmacewen in 2012.

Jakob Bleach (St Clair),  one of the most talented juniors to emerge in recent years,  he gets his opportunity at No6.

The selectors will be keen to see him develop his mental game in line with his obvious ball-striking ability.

Otago match play finalist Ryan Bellamy (St Clair) is at No7 and a consistent effort in the South Island event could catapult him into the top five.

Michael Ormandy (St Clair) grabs the final place in the octet after posting two wins in the triangular and beating Snow in a tight tussle in the first round of the matchplay last weekend.Harry Smith (Maniototo) had one half in the triangular and has been named as the team reserve.  Sungwoo Han (Queenstown) lost both triangular matches and has not been included, as a result.

Fifty per cent of the team comes from the St Clair Club, which has dominated the pennant series and the champion of champions events this year.

 

Otago men’s golf team
In playing order

Fraser MacLachlan (Millbrook Resort), Inia Logan (Wakatipu Junior), Chris Snow (St Clair),  captain, Brandon Hodgson (Otago), Michael Smith (Otago), Jakob Bleach (St Clair), Ryan Bellamy (St Clair), Michael Ormandy (St Clair). Reserve:  Harry Smith (Maniototo).

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