On a day that held so much promise, the Blues have come up empty-handed in a dramatic interstate series final at Tasmania Golf Club.
With a countback of results from the number one matches in the round-robin phase dictating who was the top seed for the final (VIC 3 points NSW 2 1/2 points), it meant a four-all tie in was not going to be enough for the Blues to take the interstate crown.
And on an afternoon filled with some spectacular golf from both sides, so it finished – a four-all tie.
Earlier, it had appeared the Blues were on track to replicate their win over the southerners. With all eight playing, Jye Pickin got the team off to a good start.
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After letting a chance to win his match against WA slip by earlier in the day, he made no mistake in the afternoon, taking his game against Konrad Cuipek 3&2.
Lucas Higgins has proven what a talent he is, this time with a 5&4 win over Aiden Didone.
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Harrison Crowe re-enforced the view of many that he is one of the rising stars of Australian Amateur golf with a 2 &1 win to remain undefeated for the tournament.
The Blues star of the final was undoubtedly Blake Windred. The Novocastrian was on fire, demolishing Blake Collyer 6&5 in a performance he described as like playing a video game.
With four wins on the board, the team was striving to find the final half-point from one of the players at the top of the order.
Sadly though, that was as good as it got. Jordie Garner, Josh Armstrong and Nathan Barbieri, who had been so dominant through the round-robin games, were unable to score the vital point.
James Conran, down for most of the back nine, was gifted a glimmer of a chance late in the afternoon.
Two down with two to play, Conran was gifted a sniff when his opponent Darcy Brereton three-putted the 17th to send the match to the final hole.
The chance was short-lived, and when Conran dumped his tee shot in the greenside trap, and with his opponent just short of the front edge and only needing a par, things were looking grim.
Unable to move his shot towards the flag, Conran elected to play away from the hole. The plugged lie in the bunker, however, was too much, and all he could do was see it roll to the far edge of the green. Three putts later and it was all over.
A naturally disappointed Team Captain Blake WIndred was philosophical after the final.
"It is what it is," Windred said. "We knew what the equation was, and the guys laid it all out there this afternoon."
"The final was played in great spirit, and I know the boys will be hurting a bit."
Results:
Jye Pickin defeated Konrad Cuipek 3&2
Lucas Higgins defeated Aiden Didone 5&4
Harrison Crowe defeated Lukas Michel 2&1
James Conran lost to Darcy Brereton
Jordie Garner lost to Andree Lautee 6&5
Josh Armstrong lost to Matias Sanchez 2&1
Nathan Barbieri lost to Kyle MIchel 4&3
Blake WIndred defeated Blake Collyer 6&5