Bay of Plenty are the Freyberg Masters Champions for the first time after a dramatic final day at the Coringa Golf Club in Christchurch on Friday.
The team became the third team in as many years, following Canterbury (2011) and Waikato (2012), to claim the coveted title for the first time since it began in 1986 at Paraparaumu Beach.
The Bay, which only emerged as a contender late in the week, defeated Southland 3-2 in their crucial round nine contest to secure its first title while Aorangi slipped up on its chance to make history by losing to Auckland.
In one of the closest contest in recent years, the Bay won by 3-2 on six occasions to secure the title by just a half a team point - 6.5 points from a possible 8 points to Aorangi's 6 points - to make history.
Team manager and selector Ross Fowler was still recovering from a taxing week when contacted by the Bay of Plenty Times yesterday.