Patston is seeking to add the Otago matchplay title to the Otago strokeplay title he was so overjoyed to win at the end of January.
The classy left-hander is in the final four of the matchplay, with semifinals set to go at his home Balmacewen course this morning and the final this afternoon.
Patston meets Invercargill golfer Matt Tautari in one semifinal, while Liam Hewitt (Queens Park) will continue the Southland challenge when he plays Brandon Hodgson (Otago) in the other.
Patston, who qualified sixth for the matchplay leg of the tournament after two rounds of strokeplay qualifying on Saturday, beat Ryan Rosevear (Taieri Lakes) 5 and 4 in the quarterfinals.
Tautari pipped No 2 qualifier Hamish Ireland (Wanaka) 2 and 1, while Hodgson beat youngster Kai Koni 4 and 2.
McLauchlan had reached the quarterfinals by reeling off four straight birdies to knock out top qualifier Phil Bungard 6 and 5 in the morning matchplay session.
Bungard, the 2021 champion, was the No 1 seed for the matchplay after a dominant performance in strokeplay qualifying.
He crafted rounds of 3-under-par 68 — the round of the day — and 70 to pace the field by five shots.
Ireland (69 and 74) qualified second, ahead of Luke Murdoch (71 and 74) and Hodgson (75 and 71).
— Josh Geary sealed the Jennian Homes Trophy in style when he won the Taranaki Open in a dominant display of golf in challenging conditions yesterday.
Geary’s outstanding year included second at the Muriwai Open, a tie for second at the Clearwater Open, and victory at the Tauranga Open alongside his win in Taranaki.
He tied Michael Hendry, who won the Clearwater Open in a playoff last weekend, as the most prolific winner on the tour with his ninth victory.
After opening with 65, 71 and 70, the 38-year-old Bay of Plenty professional began yesterday’s final round a shot behind Mark Brown.
He made birdies at three and six in his opening nine to share the lead with New Plymouth trainee professional Stevie Heyes.
A birdie at 10 separated him further from the chasers, and as the wind continued to play havoc, Geary’s game remained solid.
He birdied the tricky par-3 16th to stretch his lead to three with two to play, and went to the last four ahead after Tyler Hodge, his nearest competitor, made a critical bogey on 17.
Geary finished emphatically, rolling in a putt from 10.5m for an eagle and a round of 66 to win.
In the women’s competition, Otago No 1 Sumin Kang will take on team-mate Yoonae Jeong in a fascinating semifinal.
Judith Yates will play Tracey Storer in the other semifinal.
