KIWI Murray Martin has had a commanding win in the 2013 Australian Men’s Senior Amateur Championship at the Royal Queensland Golf Club.
The New Plymouth member won by 6 strokes over fellow New Zealander Frank Borren and 2012 champion Sam Christie.
Martin became one of only three golfers to win both the Australian and New Zealand Senior Amateur Championships, joining Rodney Barltrop (NZ) and Sydney’s Stefan Albinski (Aust) with this rare achievement.
“It’s great to put my name under senior greats including Rodney Barltrop and Stefan Albinski,” Martin said.
“It’s been great to come over and play with my Australian mates and wonderful to have my family here to see me sink the last putt to win the championship.”
Defending champion Christie (Indooroopilly) stormed home in the final round to finish with the best round of the championship, a 1-under 71, to tie with Borren in second place.
Another Kiwi in Michael Leitch finished in a tie for fourth with Concord member Paul Maslen.
The interstate teams event was won by the New South Wales team of Albinski, Denis Dale, Ross Bockman and Robert Payne over Queensland.
The Aussies get a chance to retaliate next week when the focus shifts to the Sanctuary Cove Golf Club for the annual senior amateur battle between Australia and New Zealand.
The two countries have fought for the Sanctuary Cove Trophy since 2007 with the wins even on three each going into the event.
2013 Men’s Senior Amateur Championship Final Results