Starting from the 8^th hole, Ford’s set a blistering pace on the back-nine where he posted birdies on holes 10, 13, 15 and 18 to make the turn at 4-under.

A birdie on the 1^st took the Victorian out to a one stroke lead at 5-under. A birdie at his final hole of the day, the 7^th, made up for a bogey on the par-5 3^rd hole and secured Ford’s one-stroke win over Christopher Wood at Bairnsdale Golf Club.

“It’s just great to be back out playing, especially down here in Bairnsdale. I love coming here. The course is always in awesome condition,” said Ford.

“I haven’t been playing much recently so I was happy to get off to a hot start. Then I was really just holding on for those last few holes.”

Chris Wood set the pace for the afternoon field after rocketing to an early score of 3-under through his first 10 holes to equal the lowest rounds of the morning set by Euan Walters and Tim Elliott.

A birdie on the par-3 11^th, followed by a birdie on the par-5 13^th and bogey on the par-4 15^th saw the Queenslander finish in second place with a score of 4-under 67.

Elliott, Walters and 2019 PGA Pro-Am Series Order of Merit winner Tim Hart finished in a tie for third place at 3-under 68, ahead of Brady Watt ad Ashley Hall in sixth place at 2-under 69.

In addition to the Pro-Am prize, the five female PGA Professionals in the field were also eligible for the East Gippsland Council Bonus.

Commonwealth Golf Club PGA Associate Joanne Flaherty took out first prize with a round of 2-over 73.

“Today was really up and down for me out there. I got off to a good start and got it to 1-under early,” said Flaherty.

“I have been doing a lot of work on my swing lately and it was good to see some positive results for that work.

“I have played some of this swing last year and the extra support from the East Gippsland Shire Council for the female Professionals is a really good initiative.”

The Big Garage Subaru Bairnsdale Pro-Am and its support of female PGA Professionals is a point of pride for East Gippsland Shire Council Mayor Mendy Urie who said Council is proud to support and encourage women in sport and it was pleasing to see a number of female professional golfers in the event today. We hope this may inspire the next generation of your female golfers to try the sport.

“The Bairnsdale Pro Am has been running successfully for the past seven years and has made the golf course a ‘must play’ destination in country Victoria,” Cr Urie said.

For the final Big Garage Subaru Bairnsdale Pro-Am results, visit pga.org.au.