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Aaron Townsend has clinched the win of the ABM Contractors Blackwater Pro-Am with rounds of 66 and 65 for a 13-under total of 131.

With three PGA Professionals beginning the final round all tied up at 7-under the card, it was a come from behind victory for the NSW Professional who remained bogey-free over the 36 holes of the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series tournament.

Starting from the 1st one shot behind the leading trio, Townsend birdied holes 1, 6 and 7 on the front-9 then racked up another four birdies on the back-9 on holes 11, 14, 15 and 16.

“I have played really well over the past two days,” said Townsend.

“I made very few mistakes over the 36 holes and to not have one bogey is very pleasing and was definitely the key to the victory.

“This is my first visit to Blackwater and the Mining Town Series and it is so different to playing other events, it has been great.”

Finishing in second place only a single shot back was fellow NSW PGA Professional Dale Williamson who fired a second round 66 to add to his first round of 66.

In great form after winning the Tieri Pro-Am at his last start, Williamson carded 8 birdies and 2 bogeys in his final round to fall just short.

“What a fantastic few days I have had here at Blackwater,” said Williamson.

“This is a truly unique area and the amount of work all the members and volunteers put in is simply amazing.

“I think this is one of the reasons I have played so well the past week.”

A trio of players completed the tournament in third place with Queenslanders Brett Rankin and Anthony Johnson as well as Victorian Jack Wilson carding rounds of 11-under.

Tim Hart continues to hold the lead in the Onsite Rental Group Mining Towns Series on 59-under par holding a four shot lead over his nearest rival in Brett Rankin on 55-under. Dale Williamson sits in third place on 50-under with one event to be played.

The final event of the Onsite Rental Group Mining Town Series will commence on Saturday at the Lunar Mining Emerald Pro-Am.

Aaron Townsend has won the 2018 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Qualifying School presented by Cobra Puma Golf after holding off Jordan Mullaney at Moonah Links.

The New South Welshman was the first to admit he has taken his fair share of punishment from the Moonah Links layout and thought it may get the better of him again early in his round.

“I thought it was going to get me back today actually after I beat it up yesterday,” said Townsend.

“It wasn’t a good start, I was really battling early, luckily I made a couple of putts, my putter really saved me today.”

Townsend and Mullaney were running a two horse race with a sizeable gap on the field and it was Mullaney who took the lead by one as the pair made the turn.

The running battle was a distraction to Townsend but his experience came to the fore and he was able to re-gain the lead on the second last hole, finishing his round 3-under 69 and 16-under the card.

“Because we had such a gap on the field it was sort of a distraction and that probably took too much of my focus.

“But Jordan played great, he pushed me all the way and I think he lead for the most of the day, I was surprised I got in front of him because he never looked like hitting a bad shot.

“I hit a nice birdie on the 17th to get me in front and just held him off.”

Townsend takes home a cheque for $5,000 for his win but the real reward is knowing he has a guaranteed start in every tournament of the 2018 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia season.

After a tough 2017, Townsend said winning Qualifying School gives him the peace of mind of a secure spot on the Tour and hopes the win is a sign of things to come next year.

“The best thing about finishing in this position is I don’t have to worry about the re-rank, I know I’m just exempt all year, so I can address my season like I have every other season, it won’t change too much for me which is nice.

“Hopefully this is a sign of things turning around and I can forget about last season and move on to 2018.”

Earning a Category 11 exemption and finishing in respective order was Jordan Mullaney (15-under), Harrison Endycott (7-under), Sam Lee (7-under), and Adam Stephens (6-under).

Players who finished sixth through to 40th plus ties receive Exemption Category 16.

For final scores from Qualifying School, please visit pga.org.au.