Cold, testing conditions at Heathcote Golf Club on Sunday made scoring difficult for the 61 players competing in the annual Central Victorian Senior Open Amateur.
Len Prior from Bendigo Golf Club proved too strong for the competition shooting 75, just one shot clear of Barry Tippett (Sands Torquay) and John Taylor (Medway) to be crowned the 2012 champion.
Click here to view the 2012 Central Victorian Senior Open Amateur Results
The weather changed for the better for the Shepparton Senior Amateur the next day.
The final round concluded with Bill Banks, 72-76 (Royal Canberra) tied with John Keller, 73-75 (Hill Top) on 148. The first playoff hole, the 18th, an uphill 360 meter par four, was halved with pars. Keller nearly holed his 30ft uphill putt for birdie, but left it an inch short.
Players then moved to the second playoff hole, the 10th, a 415 meter par four playing into a slight headwind. On the tee Banks pushed his drive leaving himself a difficult second shot, needing to shape the ball 200 meters around trees in order to make the green. Keller hit his drive out of the screws and straight down the middle.
Banks scrambled well and hit a good second shot to within fifty meters of the green. Keller then hit a three wood hooking it around the trees on the corner and getting to within a few meters of the green.
Banks pitched up, but was too long, hitting it 15ft past the flag. Keller, using his long putter from off the green holed his third from 60ft to win the Championship.
Click here to view the 2012 Shepparton Senior Amateur Results