The Otago Pennant Finals were played in South Otago this year at Balclutha Golf Club and Tapanui Golf Club.

Senior A, Junior A, Junior B, and Women’s played at Balclutha Golf Club while Senior B, Intermediates, and Presidents were contested at Tapanui. Semi-finals were to be played in the morning, with each winner securing a spot in the final for their respective grades.

In the semi-finals of the Women’s grade, we saw Tapanui take on Wanaka and Kurow vs Otago. Both semi-finals came down to the wire, but ultimately Wanaka prevailed over Tapanui 3-2, followed by Kurow beating Otago 3-2. The final was set for Kurow vs Wanaka. Both teams got off to a very even start, with Wanak’s number 1, Liz McRae, securing the first point for her team. This was followed by Kurow’s number 2, Kate Gibbon, evening the scores when she beat Nikki Shaw 2/1. Wanaka pulled ahead when Rae Hammond beat Marilyn Taylor 4/2, but it was Kurow’s tail order that came home strong with wins to Janeen Benny and Claire Smith, which would secure the title for Kurow.

In the Junior A semi final we had Tapanui vs Alexandra and Gladfield vs Ardleigh. Both Gladfield and Tapanui had their eyes set on the trophy as they leaped into the final, beating their opponents 3-1. It was Tapanui that drew first blood in the final, with Grant Anderson winning his match 4/3. This meant that Gladfield would need two wins and a half from the remaining matches to take the trophy. The job only got harder when Tapanuis Justin Cronin beat Steve Fraser 1up securing their second point. All was sealed when Jason Stuart beat Vern Rizzi 1 up, securing the third and winning point for Tapanui. Gladfields Keith Hendry outplayed Robert Kane, beating him 4/2, but it was all too late as Tapanui took victory, beating Gladfield 3-1.

Both semi-finals in Junior B couldn’t be decided in regulation. Queenstown vs Clinton finished at 2-2, but with two 5/4 wins to Bob Robson and Jamie Chittock, Clinton snuck through on countback. On the other side, it was a little more tight. With both Chisholm and Tokarahi finishing 2-2, and the same amount of holes won, they were headed to a playoff. Ultimately Chisholm would prevail, winning the 20th hole and securing a spot in the final. In the afternoon, Chisholm had learned from the morning and wasn’t taking any chances of a playoff. Wins Mike O’Neill, Kelvin Trainor, and Andrew Miller ultimately sealed the title for Chisholm as they beat Clinton 3-1.

Three clubs would be fighting for the Senior A title. Otago, Wanaka, and North Otago. Defending champs Otago set the standard once again as they beat Wanak Golf Club 4-2, and North Otago Golf Club 5.5-0.5 to claim their 3rd Senior A title in a row. Wanaka finished runner-up, beating North Otago 4-2.

The highlight of the day at Balclutha Golf Club came in the morning when Baxter Meder (Otago) made an ace on hole 10 to win his match 2 up. A sweetly struck 6 iron that never left the flag, landing 3 feet short and rolling in. What a way to win the match and get another point for your team!

Over at Tapanui the Presidents Semi-Finals consisted of Heriot playing Lake Hawea and Tokarahi playing Otago. Heriot came out hot and showed they were here to give it everything. They wrapped up their first two matches with Nick Aitken and Julian Kelly winning 5&3. Darrin Birley clawed one back with an 8&7 win for Lake Hawea. Heriot came in clutch and cemented their ticket into the final with wins from Sonny Paikea and Ivan Roulston. The overall score finished 4.5 - 1.5 to Heriot.

Tokarahi vs Otago was a much closer affair, with Rodney Meiklejohn, Darryl Patterson, and Murray Simpson winning 5&4, 2&1, and 2&1 for Tokarahi. Otago claimed the other 3 matches with Chris Timms, Blake Haines and Mark Miller winning 4&2, 2&1 & 7&5. The 7&5 win from Mark Miller proved vital as Otago claimed the win to face off with Heriot in the final.

In the Senior B Semi Final, Balclutha faced off against Hawea. All four matches were close battles, however, Balclutha came out on top with wins from Daley Moore, Cody Peoples and Jeff Bissett. 3&2, 2&1 and 2up on the last. Jake Cocks claimed one back for Lake Hawea, but it was too little too late for Hawea. In the second Semi, Ardleigh and Otago teed it up and Ardleigh started off with a tight tussle in the first match with Geoff Harris Jnr winning 1 up on the last hole. Otago Fought hard claiming the rest of the matches with Howard Maxwell, Richard Penno and Thomas Gillan winning 5&4, 3&1 and 4&2 to send them through to the final against Balclutha.

To the intermediate semis, Balclutha was up against Arrowtown in the first match. Balclutha and Arrowtown trade the first two matches, with Marty Hurring from Balclutha winning 2up and Steve Ebsworth from Arrowtown winning 3&1. Unfortunately for Arrowtown, Balclutha came home strong with Rodney Kenny winning 6&5 and Ross Burnet winning 2&1 to send Balclutha to the final. The second semi-final between Tokarahi and St Clair was a tight match with Rex Hamilton and Carl Sinclair winning their matches for Tokarahi 3&2 and 4&3. St Clair also responded, winning the other two matches with Jason Ryan and Trevor Griffin winning their matches 3&3 and 1 up. Tokarahi had done enough to progress by winning on a countback to face off against Balclutha in the Final.

Heriot and Otago came down to the wire in the President's grade final. Heriots Jackson Campbell was in early with an 8&7 win. Otago’s Jarod Williden responded with a 5&4 win to level the scores 1-1.  Nick Aitken and Julian Kelly gave Heriot the advantage with 3&2 wins to spread the gap to 3-1. Otago’s Lawson Davison clawed a point back with a win taking the match to 3-2. The final match between Sonny Paikea and Blake Haines went down to the wire. Otago needed a win to take the match to a countback but Sonny put up the challenge with the match finish in a halve. Final score 3.5-2.5 to Heriot.

In the Senior B final Balclutha started strong with a tight match that went down to the 18th. Daley Moore claiming a 1up win to get Balclutha on the board. Otago responded with Howard Maxwell, Richard Penno and Thomas Gillan claiming the final 3 matches 4&3, 2&1 and 3&2. Putting Otago on top winning 3-1.

Balclutha and Tokarahi faced off to decide the intermediate champions for 2023. Tokarahi’s Rex Hamilton started with a 3&2 win to get on the board. Keith Calder and Rodney Kenny from Balclutha responded with a 3&2 & 5&4 wins to take the advantage with one match to go. Ross Burnet and Carl Sinclair took it to the 18th hole with Ross Burnet winning 1up.

The highlight of the day from Tapanui came from Carl Sinclair with a hole-in-one on the 9th hole. Helping his match go down to the wire!