The Otago women do not have to travel far, as they are the host team at Taieri Lakes, while the men are off to Hororata.
The annual tournaments feature eight-person teams from the regions — five for the men, four for the women — competing in the matchplay format.
Otago has rejigged its team for the men’s tournament following the unavailability of No 1 Tom Lee, who is completing his university studies.
Callum Judkins, Phil Bungard, Duncan Croudis and Will Young are also missing from the team, which finished second in the South Island interprovincial last year.
The in-form Inia Logan returns to representative duties and will play at No 1, ahead of new Otago matchplay champion Ryan Bellamy.
Also back after a spell away that included caddying at St Andrews is Hamish Ireland, who is at No 3 and joined at No 8 by Wanaka clubmate Ryan Shuttleworth.
There is a solid core to the Otago middle order in the form of the experienced Brandon Hodgson, Wanaka Open champion and matchplay finalist Parker Aluesi, Ben Patston and Jacob Bellamy.
As there are five teams in the men’s tournament, rounds are split into odds and evens.
Otago’s odds (Logan, Ireland, Aluesi and Jacob Bellamy) play Tasman in the opening round, and the other four golfers clash with Southland counterparts.
A junior team will accompany the seniors for a match against Canterbury.
That team is Jan Ebbinge, Nico Cheifetz, Noah Novacek, Lachlan Coutts, Ricky Kang and Kai Koni.
Otago No 1 Sumin Yang will miss the women’s tournament at Taieri Lakes but she has a very good reason.
Yang is off to Thailand for the Asia-Pacific championship.
In her absence, the cool heads of Abby Crawford and Tracey Storer will need to provide support for young No1 Yoonae Jeong, while Sophia Park and Anahera Koni are also fresh faces in the squad.
The Otago women face Tasman on Saturday morning, Aorangi on Saturday afternoon, and Canterbury on Sunday morning.
The Otago senior men’s team heads to Motueka this weekend, for the week-long Freyberg Masters.
Tony Giles, Brent McEwan and Travis Cook are missing from the team that finished second after an exceptional tournament at Paraparaumu last year, and are replaced by Paul Hubbard (No 1), Rodney Krahenbring (No 2) and 2021 reserve John McIntee (No 4).
Regulars Andrew Hobbs and Chris Snow are back and will play at No 3 and No 5 respectively.
Otago plays Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu-Whanganui on Monday, Wellington and Canterbury on Tuesday, North Harbour on Wednesday, Taranaki and Northland on Thursday, and Southland on Friday.
SI interprovincial
Otago teams
Men (at Hororata): Inia Logan, Ryan Bellamy, Hamish Ireland, Brandon Hodgson, Parker Aluesi, Ben Patston, Jacob Bellamy, Ryan Shuttleworth.
Women (at Taieri Lakes): Yoonae Jeong, Abby Crawford, Kim Fraser, Kathryn Baker, Tracey Storer, Joanna Booker, Sophia Park, Anahera Koni.
