Courtesy: Golf Victoria New South Wales professional Paul Sheehan put in a gritty and determined last day performance to win the 2011 Victorian Open played at the Spring Valley Golf Club on Sunday January 9th. The 33-year-old closed with a one-over par round of 72 to finish at eight-under and win by two strokes from Victorian Matthew Griffin. Young Victorian professional Tony McNaughton was outright third at five-under with Aaron Townsend and Steven Jones finishing in a tie for fifth at four-under. On an overcast, mild day with moderate southerly breezes providing a respite from the heat and near gale force northerlies of the previous two days, the pressure of the final round saw few last day sub-par charges. Beginning the day at nine-under, the 2006 Japan Open Champion made a shaky start having to make a ten-metre par putt at the first before holing from 25 metres just short of the second green for a birdie. Despite a wayward iron at the par-three third, a brilliant pitch to within half a metre from the hole secured another regulation figure for the leader to maintain a three-stroke break over nearest challenger Griffin. The pattern continued over the opening nine although Sheehan s lead narrowed with consecutive bogeys at the seventh and eighth. After six straight pars including some missed opportunities for birdies, Griffin birdied the seventh to get to eight-under. However the 27-year-old failed to get a share of the lead after also bogeying the eighth. Townsend, who was displaying the best ball striking of the final group over the opening holes, also progressed steadily to reach seven under after birdies at the fourth and seventh. The ninth would then prove to be the first of a series of pivotal holes. After a solid drive and approach found the centre of the long par four into the wind, Sheehan holed the ten metre birdie putt to return to nine-under. Griffin meanwhile had an untidy bogey after finding the greenside bunker with his approach while Townsend double-bogeyed after driving into the left hand trees and compounded the error by three-putting. A three-stroke lead may seem an unassailable advantage going into the back nine, but Sheehan was battling with his game that had seen him only hit two greens in regulation over the opening nine. His struggle with his iron play continued missing another green at the short 10th and finding sand. After saving par from the greenside bunker at the 10th, a birdie to Griffin at the 11th narrowed the margin to two. A bogey from Sheehan at the par-five 12th courtesy of finding the water hazard with his second shot, then reduced the margin to a solitary stroke. Of the other challengers, McNaughton had played steadily throughout the final day and also moved into contention with a birdie at the 12th to get to six-under. While a bogey at the 16th halted his title chances, a last day 69 saw the Barham based youngster achieve his best professional event result. After pars to both Griffin and Sheehan on the 13th, 14th and 15th, the key moment came at the 16th where the both the experienced Japanese Tour player and young Melbournian missed the green with their approaches. Sheehan saved par putt after chipping to just over a metre and making the clutch putt but Griffin bogeyed after missing his metre par attempt after a sound chip to again fall two behind. Sheehan again struggled to a par at the reachable par five 17th, finding the fairway bunker from the tee and being forced to lay-up. Despite having a five iron second, Griffin missed the green and failed to make the birdie required to bridge the gap. Sheehan then closed out the event with a cast-iron par four at the last with a good drive and sound lofted iron into the heart of the green, only his fifth in regulation. Through a deft short game, tough mindset and just 24 putts, Sheehan had salvaged not only the round but his first professional victory in four years. A relieved but elated Sheehan commented after the round, I got it done and I m rapt. I played well for three days but couldn’t get my rhythm for the day and just struggled. Fortunately my putting and chipping was just unbelievable and every hole I had to work for my pars. When I ve won in previous times, I ve always played really good on the last day to win. It’s been a few years and given the way I played and to get it actually done was really satisfying. Originally from Coffs Harbour but a long-time supporter of the event after having in lived in Melbourne for over a decade, Sheehan was genuinely thrilled with the win. I love coming to this tournament and it s a great venue Spring Valley. To finally win after having had (previously) a second in the Vic Open feels great. It’s a great way to start the year, he said. The leading amateur for the 2011 Championship was National Squad member Ryan McCarthy. The Tasmanian closed with a one-under 70 to finish on 291 (seven-over), one stroke clear of Victorian State team member Terry Vogel on 292. In the 51st playing of the Victorian Open Championship, Paul Sheehan becomes the 40th player to have won the title and joins past winners including Peter Thomson, Gary Player, Bruce Devlin, Guy Wolstenholme, Rodger Davis, Bob Shearer, Stewart Ginn, Ian Stanley, Mike Clayton, Greg Norman and Robert Allenby. The Victorian Open Championship has a rich history linking back to the first Championship of Victoria played at Royal Melbourne in 1899. The first tournament named the Vic Open was held in 1957 at Riversdale Golf Club and was won by Ossie Pickworth. The tournament continues to provide a pinnacle event for Victorian golf, particularly in showcasing Australia s emerging golf talent. The 2011 Victorian Open was supported by the Victorian State Government through the Significant Sporting Events Program. As part of a new series of grants to be awarded under the Events Program, the Victorian Open was granted $50,000 to help in the running of the 2011 Championship.