LUKE Streater became Gunnedah Golf Club champion for the eighth time on Sunday with the win making him the club’s most successful champion.

Streater’s comfortable 11-stroke win over fierce but friendly rival Troy Dries eclipsed seven-time champion Geoff Flett who won his crowns over a 15-year period between 1969 to 1983.

Dries summed up his opponent’s position as the club and region’s best golfer during his speech at presentation time on Sunday.

Ever humble and gracious in defeat – himself a two-time champion – Dries said Streater was “on a different level” to the rest of the contenders, congratulating him on achieving a special milestone with victory number eight.

Streater fired rounds of 71-72 to Dries’ pair of 74s on the first weekend to open up five-stroke lead.

He virtually sealed win number eight with a fine one-under par 68 on Saturday.

Dries  struggled to an uncharacteristic 77 on Sunday but didn’t give up and in true gutsy style carded a superb closing 70 on Sunday, the second lowest round of the tournament, to narrow the gap to 11.

Streater’s win has capped an outstanding season which features the Central North Regional Championship and Champion of Champions Title won at Tamworth Golf Club in late June.

It was the sixth time in the past nine years Streater has picked up the regional double.

Streater had nothing but praise for Dries’ courage over the four days .

“Troy never gives up and after his round of 77 on Saturday he could have been excused for taking it easy,” Streater said.

“But that is not the way he plays and his fine 70 on the final day was an outstanding round of golf.”

The champion also praised the condition of the course which tested the mental toughness of many with greens that ran as fast as Augusta on the first two days.

The club saluted its four divisional champions on Sunday with Sam Doubleday taking out the double of the Division 2 crown and the Colts Gross with a fine 342 for the 72-holes.

Steve Dunn turned back the clock to take out Division 3 while Bruce McManus had a comfortable win in Division 4.

Peter Ellis (Div 2), Phil Jackson and Garren Cruickshank (Div 3) and Rod Green (Div 4) took home the runners-up trophies.

The mercurial Russell Easey took out the Veterans Gross.

Youngster Dylan Power won the prestigious 72-hole nett with 293 on a count-back, Rod Green the first 36-hole nett with 139 and Troy Dries the second 36-hole nett with 147, again on a count-back while Bruce McManus won the Veterans nett for the Albert Hall trophy.

Mark Kenny celebrated his triumph in the 400 Club.