Victorian Rory Bourke has won the inaugural JRT/Tropical Auto Group Southern Great Barrier Reef Golf Championship in Yeppoon.

Bourke was put
pressure early in the final round by his playing partner and nearest competitor
Daniel Fox, by the time the players had reached the back nine; Bourke’s lead
had been reduced to just one shot.

Chris Wood
was also moving in the right direction and like Fox was one back with only nine
holes to play.

With the
tournament in the balance, it was the case of who was going to make the first
move and it wasn’t long until Bourke showed his class.

With birdies
at the 10^th, 12^th, 13^th, 14^th and
15th, even a bogey at the 165 metre par 3 16^th could halt Bourke’s
charge for the title.

A further
birdie at the last ensured Bourke’s dominant seven shot victory with a
tournament total of 23-under the card.

Wood and Fox finished
in a tie for second.  

This is
Bourke’s third victory on the Choice Hotels PGA Pro-Am Series this year, he
also won the South West Open in Bunbury and Kooringal Pro-Am.

"What an
amazing week it has been," said the 27-year-old Melbournian following his win.

"From the
time I arrived in Yeppoon I knew I was going to play well, so this has really
capped off three great weeks of golf in Queensland."

Bourke was
happy to have taken out such a convincing victory after being under pressure
early in the round.

"There is no
doubt I was a little nervous out there today, but at the same time it was good
to play alongside Foxy and have a bit of fun during the round," added Bourke.

"Foxy and
Chris were giving it there all to try and catch me, so it’s pretty satisfying
that I was able to keep them at bay over the closing holes."

"This win
really means a lot and I look forward to it sinking in over the next few days."

Yeppoon Golf
Club PGA Professional Graham Sheppard was delighted with the inaugural event
and is looking forward to building on this year’s success.

"The entire
team here at the Yeppoon Golf Club are proud of what we have achieved this
year, and preparations are already in place on improving the event into the
future," said Sheppard.

"We have a
wonderful sponsor base in Central Queensland, who love the opportunity to play
alongside the competing professionals that have travelled from far and wide to
be here in Yeppoon this year."

"This event
has no doubt encompassed the entire community and we look forward to growing
this event into one of the major events on the Capricorn Coast for many years
to come."

Professionals
will continue to stay in Central Queensland this week as the inaugural Port
Curtis Classic which tees off on Monday.

Professionals
will play at Gladstone on Monday, Boyne Island on Tuesday, before the $35,000
Classic concludes at Calliope on Wednesday.