Golf: Waikato win after Northland's miss

Luke Brown of Northland reacts after missing his last putt to give victory to Waikato in the semifinal of the Men's Interprovincial Golf Championships. Photo / BW Media

Waikato have won the 2015 Toro Interprovincials to become back-to-back champions after beating Northland by a hair in the semifinals and then going on to dispatch Otago in the final.

In what could be described as more typical Southland conditions at Invercargill Golf Club, rain was more than consistent; as were the Waikato golfers as they won in convincing fashion, 4&1.

In the semifinal, Waikato showed why they are a champion team. They came from behind late in the match to fight back and win with the final putt to edge Northland out of the tournament.

Waikato were led by their number one, and player of the tournament, Luke Toomey who sunk a 25-foot putt to make a simply superb birdie on the last and steal victory from a dejected Luke Brown of Northland.

"I wasn't overly nervous at the time because I had no choice but to make the putt. For it to go in was a special feeling," beamed Toomey.

Playing the lost opportunity through in his mind, Brown said he "fell to the ground in disbelief" as his 35-foot putt hung on the lip of the last hole.

"It's just a pity that I didn't drop that final putt ... it was about 35-foot and I really had to hit it well," he said.

Despite the narrow loss, Brown mentioned support flowing in from Northland "really helped the boys", and that the result has "given the boys confidence going into next year".

Waikato number five Chris Charlton, who is new to the team, led Waikato out well all week finishing with a record of six wins from eight matches.

"I'm stoked, rapt for the boys to get over the line," Charlton said. "Thought I played well this week and happy to try to get the boys off to a good start. We came into this week wanting a win and nothing else, so it's nice to achieve that."

Waikato's win has been a great team effort, and although they are a young bunch they carry a lot of experience with four from five players being part of the win last year and all playing in the same order.

Sam Vincent, who only lost two of his eight matches, was all smiles as they achieved the win.

"All we were thinking about this year was going back-to-back so it's pretty sweet to see our name on the trophy two years in a row," he said.

"I was getting toasted at the start but just kept the faith and had a good stretch through the middle, but I'm just proud of the guys around me."

The only shining light of Otago's runner-up finish was that of Brent McEwan finishing his representative career on a high.

He defeated Denzel Iremia 2&1 in his 103rd and final game. However, he has never won the Toro Interprovincials, which will leave a small gap in his superb career.