AUSTRALIA’S top senior amateur golfer Stefan Albinski has taken out the 2010 Victorian Senior Amateur Championship with a typical fighting final round to make up a three stroke deficit.

Albinski, the reigning Australian Senior Amateur champion, put himself further behind overnight leader Bill Banks when he bogeyed the first hole at The Sands Golf Club, Torquay, in the three day event this week.

But as the 64 year old Banks and others dropped shots at crucial times, Albinski held firm.

A great birdie on the 178 metre par three 17th by the Mona Vale golfer sealed the win and saw him finish with a one under par 71.

It was Albinski’s second Victorian Seniors title and his 14th win since exploding onto the over 55’s elite Australian amateur golf circuit by winning the 2008 Australian Championship, his first event.

The Sydneysider has battled some injury and related form loss of late but looks to be coming back to his best.

Banks, not far off his 65th birthday, finished three strokes behind but by leading the first two rounds demonstrated he is still one of the county’s best senior amateurs.

Rick Oliver, who had his chance when a birdie on the 9th put him briefly in the outright lead, finished in third place a stroke behind Banks.

Attention will now turn to the Australian Senior Match Play Championship to be played at the nearby Thirteenth Beach Golf Club from Monday (October 25) next week.

In November, Albinski will lead a six man team of Australian seniors to compete in the 2010 Asia Pacific Senior Championship in Thailand.

The Australian team will be keen to take back the title they lost to New Zealand last year.

The Australian team includes Albinski, John Beaumont, Peter King, Greg Corben, Rick Oliver and Grahame MacDonald.

2010 Victorian Senior Amateur Golf Championship Final Result:

1    221    ALBINSKI Stefan    76  -  74  -  71
2    224    BANKS Bill    74  -  73  -  77
3    225    OLIVER Rick    76  -  73  -  76
3    225    MASLEN Paul    80  -  74  -  71
5    226    TATT Chris    78  -  73  -  75
6    228    BEAUMONT John    79  -  72  -  77
7    229    SAMS Brian    81  -  70  -  78
7    229    PERCY Ross    79  -  72  -  78