“It's probably the best day I've ever had putting,” said Akroyd, whose representative career dates back to last century.
That has plenty to do with the outstanding Paraparaumu Beach greens, which Akroyd described as “so fast and pure”.
Akroyd efforts almost helped PBEC across the line in both their team matchplay clashes.
They lost 3-2 to Canterbury in the morning, then 3-2 to Tasman in the afternoon.
Akroyd, playing at No.4 in the five-man team, was sublime, particularly against Tasman.
He had a 4 and 3 win over his Canterbury opponent to boost his confidence, then charged home in the afternoon with birdies on four of his last five holes in a 5 and 4 victory.
Over the 30 holes he played yesterday, he was 3-under the card.
Despite the team victories, it was a good day for PBEC, who while still sitting 12th out of 13 provinces — Auckland and North Harbour are absent due to Covid-19 — lifted their individual win tally.
PBEC went into the last day on one team point and nine individual wins.
They are ahead of Taranaki on half a team point and 7.5 individual wins and just behind Southland, who have 1.5 team points.
PBEC's other individual wins yesterday came from No.1 Anaru Reedy and No.2 Simon Jeune.
Smart play on the last hole against Tasman proved a winning move for Reedy, who went into the round with a three-win, three loss record for the week.
He hit hybrid off the tee, then banged another hybrid on to the par-5 green for two and two-putted for birdie and a 1-up win.
Jeune, after a series of losses on the 18th, had a 2 and 1 win against Canterbury.
All six PBEC players were in action yesterday.
No.3 Dwayne Russell lost his matches 6 and 4 and 3 and 2.
No.5 Jace Brown had a 2 and 1 loss against Canterbury and Sel Peneha, replacing Brown against Tasman, was beaten 3 and 2.
Reedy lost his morning match 4 and 3. Jeune was beaten 4 and 3 in the afternoon Tasman tie.
Reedy, who is also managing the team, said if a couple of things had gone differently, it could have been a different story.
He was full of praise for Akroyd, who he said played excellent matchplay golf.
“He's really warmed up to this place. He knows where to put it (his ball).”
Brown was in the hunt yesterday, Reedy said, while Peneha was learning plenty in his first experience at this level.
PBEC had a bye this morning and finish the tournament against Aorangi this afternoon.
Heading into the business end, Otago (5.5 team points, 23 individual wins) were top of the table, with Wellington (5, 20) second and Hawke's Bay (4.0, 19.5) third.
