Australians never need a second invitation, as they proved at the strokeplay team's event in Invercargill yesterday.
An Australian side was invited for the first time and the visitors certainly stamped their mark at Otatara.
After holding a two-shot lead over Bay of Plenty on Saturday, the Aussies
increased their advantage to nine over North Harbour after 54 holes and to 12 after 63.
At the finish the visitors were 22 strokes clear of North Harbour.
The winning score of 1119, a staggering 33-under, was a tournament record, beating Canterbury's mark set in 2000 by 11 shots.
In second place and winners of the Macquarie Cup as the best New Zealand team were North Harbour, but only by a shot from defending champions Bay of Plenty. Last year's runners-up Canterbury were just three strokes further back.
Canterbury added interest to the local finish by picking up eight strokes on Harbour and 10 on Bay of Plenty in the final round and might have stolen the cup had shots not been frittered on the closing holes.
The five-man Aussie team represented four states - New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia - but they gelled quickly and impressed with their professional approach.
NSW's Rohan Blizard fired three consecutive five-under 67s after an opening par round to take individual honours by three shots and the Russell Hayward Memorial Player of the Tournament award from Bay of Plenty teenager Danny Lee, who faltered with a 74 in the last round after three scores in the 60s.
Canterbury's David Rattray, striving to be top individual for a third time, was fourth after being under par for his last three rounds.
North Harbour, who had passed Bay of Plenty in the third round after an 18-stroke swing, while pegging six back on Australia, finished best Kiwi team for the first time.
