Victorian PGA Professional Andrew Martin finishes the year on a high, taking out the Greater Shepparton Masters to make it two wins in a row.

Martin started the day just one shot behind overnight leader and tournament favourite Richard Green and got into his work early with an opening birdie to draw level with Green.  Both players made eagle on the short par-5 3^rd to jump to 10-under and clear of the field.

Green’s journey then became a bit of a rough ride. He made double bogey on the 4^th and the 7^th and birdies on the 5^th,6^th and 9^th to make the make the turn at 9-under par.

After a soft bogey on the 4^th Martin held his nerve with four straight pars but it was on the short par-5 9^th Martin where pounced.  An eagle, his second for the front-9 saw him jump two shots clear of Green at 11-under par.

“Ben, one of my amateur partners today told me that he really likes the front-9 here at Numurkah and I guess I do now too,” said Martin.

Scoring was tougher for all competitors today on the back and it showed with the leaders too. Green slipped another shot behind Martin after a bogeying the 12^th, but rallied with birdies on the 13^th and the 15^th Green was back in the hunt just one behind Martin.

“It was a good birdie but at the time I don’t know how Richard was going,” added Martin.

Green made par on the 17^th and then a good birdie to finish on the 18^th to be just one behind Martin and in a tie for second place with Tasmanian Simon Hawkes who went about his business almost under the radar.  A round that featured six birdies, three of them in a row around the turn saw him sign for a 5-under 67, a total of 11-under with Green.

Martin played solid golf down the last two holes with regulation pars to finish one clear of Green and Hawkes 5-under for the day, 12-under for the Tournament and the title of Greater Shepparton Masters Champion for 2017.

Martin’s form in the last six month of the year have been hot and he credits his putting.

“I having been hitting about the same all year, but the last six months I have just been holing putts.”

After making the cut in the last three ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia events of the year with his best result a T24 in the Emirates Australian Open in Sydney, Martin set his focus to the remaining Pro-Am’s.  A course record equalling 9-under in the Commercial Club Albury Pro-Am started the week which finished in with his second victory in a row today.

The low round of the day went to Mitchell A. Brown, his 6-under 66 was enough to edge out Peter Wilson for the Victorian / Tasmanian Pro-Am Order of Merit victory, the margin a mere $14.26 in one of tightest finishes ever.

Not all was lost for Wilson though, his T15th today enough to secure the National Pro-Am Order of Merit victory over New South Welshman Dale Brandt-Richards.