At the conclusion of 17 holes it came down to a battle between two of the fields outsiders as Joey Van Opynen and Mark Kelly went up the 18th hole in an effort to reign and with several hecklers and supporters watching on they couldn’t be separated.

Kelly’s tee shot missed the fairway and left him with a difficult shot over the trees from the edge of the 10th fairway whilst Van Opynen was well placed despite a bad lie on the right side of the 18th fairway.

Kelly’s played a magnificent wedge to pin high on the right side of the green but with a daunting 8 metre putt meanwhile Van Opynen guts his second shot through the green and then played a delicate chip to with 50cms of the pin to guarantee a par.

Kelly’s attempt at a birdie came agonisingly close as it shaved the hole and came to rest some 15cm past the hole thus ensuring that both players would rely of the sudden death chip off to decide the outcome.

With Kelly being the first to play he like a lot of other players during the day failed to reach the green which took the pressure off Van Opynen and he then hit a magnificent chip shot to 30cm to take the title.

Earlier the favoured players - including Justin Sutton, 15th Hole, Cameron Butler, 14th, Robert Hey, 13th, and Peter Dixon 12th Hole – had departed the final after suffering on one bad hole while the likes of Wayne Parker and David Stevenson had ensured the favourites a battle royale and their pressure paid off despite being eliminated at the 17th and 16th holes respectively.

Van Opynen congratulated sponsor Peter Boschman from Cunningham’s Supermarket for his sponsorships, as well as thanking him for the delightful luncheon provided by Janelle Thompson at the half way mark.