TROY Dries has come from three strokes back to win his third Gunnedah Golf Club Championship, edging out defending title-holder Luke Streater by two.
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Dries carded rounds of 70-74 on the weekend to overhaul Streater in what boiled down to a final 36-hole shoot-out.
The event looked to be heading down a familiar route after the opening two rounds with Streater, who was aiming for an unprecedented ninth title, going into the final 36 holes with a handy buffer.
But there is a saying in golf – “you can’t win a championship in the third round but you can lose one” – which was to prove prophetic for Streater who had a disastrous Saturday to hand Dries a crucial advantage.
"We all needed to lift to match it with Luke and this makes for tremendous good-natured rivalry and better golf.”
- 2015 championship winner, Troy Dries
As steady as ever, Dries carded an even-par 70 on “moving day” while Streater stumbled to an uncharacteristic 76 which saw him being seven-over par after the opening nine holes from which he never really recovered.
The pair went head-to-head on Sunday with Dries holding on to card a 74 to Streater’s 73, to give him a well-earned two-stroke victory.
Always gracious, Dries was quick to credit his arch-rival with continually “lifting the bar” for the club’s top tier players.
“Luke has set a benchmark for us all to aim for and we have seen some great scoring by our leading golfers in recent times as a result,” Dries said.
“Shane (Wilson), had rounds of 79-73-74-75 which in just about any other era would have assured him of the title.
“We all needed to lift to match it with Luke and this makes for tremendous good-natured rivalry and better golf.”
Dries said while this was his third title it was the one from which he has received the most satisfaction.
“I went into Saturday’s round behind and knew I had a big job ahead but I hit a great tee shot on the first to within a 100 metres of the green, put my second on and had a solid two-putt and that settled me down.
“Luke didn’t start well and couldn’t get going but I realised it was a match-play situation and that meant I didn’t need to shoot the lights out, just play him.
“I am very proud of the way I played on the weekend and in the way I held it together.
“My recent form has been good and in the end it was consistency that saw me through.”
Dries had rounds of 71-72-70-74 for a 72-hole total of 287, while Streater carded 69-71-76-73 for his 289.
Peter Vernon (328) picked up the Division 2 title with a four stroke victory over his nearest rival Gavin Breen (332).
In Division 3 Garren Cruickshank came from the clouds on Sunday to snatch the title from the seeded players with Steve Berry five strokes back, the next best.
