Most improved awards have been made to Oliver Reid and Georgia Hume.
Higgins was undefeated through the Dunedin interclub season and often came from behind to wear down opponents in the third set. He did this three times against Shaun Paringatai and once against Oliver Cuthill, his two main rivals.
He played No 1 for his adopted province and showed his loyalty by returning early from his home town of Tauranga to play the Otago Open and the Southern League, and gave a lesson in commitment, always being available for club or province.
After playing in the lower order for Eastern Harbour last season, he led it to the premier title from No 1 this season.
While Scott played much of her tennis out of the province, she was able to play and win the Otago Open again and play for Otago in the Southern League. She won nine out of 10 at the national schools' finals, and was unbeaten in the South Island schools' event.
Scott pushed former national Fed Cup players Pavlina Nola, Kairangi Vano and Rewa Harriman (nee Hudson) to close matches in Auckland interclub, and also posted many strong wins at top senior level. She is shortly to embark on an ITF junior circuit campaign, and is likely to be lost to the province as she seeks a tennis career overseas.
Reid has strengthened physically and began to record wins over higher ranked seniors this season which helped him gain more than 400 ranking points in the national system this season.
Wins over the experienced Philip Mirfin (twice) and Andrew Mitchell (three times), and debuting for Otago at adult level were among the highlights.
Hume went up 225 ranking points in the season and compiled an excellent record at national level for district and school, showing the ability to lift for the big occasion.
She was unbeaten for her school at the nationals and has several more years availability.
She was runner-up in the Otago Open and won the doubles with Scott.
