williams autumn champion

Nathan "Schnitzel" Williams has been crowned the 2014 Bendigo Bank Penola Autumn Champion after shooting 74 at the Penola Golf Course on Saturday.

Keeping in the spirit of success of left handers this week, Williams emulated Bubba Watson and finished off strongly with a sensational 34 off the stick on the back nine.

“Schnitzel” started in great fashion, birdying the first hole, he etched his way onto the champions board in a clinical display, finishing the day with 10 pars and three birdies to be a comfortable three strokes clear of Naracoorte visitor, Trevor Smith.

Despite the idyllic conditions, only a small field of 26 players entered the autumn tournament.

With three grades of prizes up for grabs, there was ample opportunity for those who did enter.

Williams was a clear winner in the gross open event, taking home a swag of prizes in the process.

In the nett event, Leo Price got the goodies on countback after shooting a steady nett 72, five pars and a birdie on the back ensured he was always going to be strong if a countback was needed.

John Mossop finished runner up on nett after also shooting a nett 72.

In the B Grade, the smiling assassin, Andrew Hutchesson was a runaway winner with a solid 85 off the beat and was consistent all day having nine pars in his round.

A wipe on the last would have made him a little nervous, but fortunately for him, the rest of the players were not close enough and he won with four shots up his sleeve.

The evergreen Graham Pope finished runner-up with 89 off the stick which momentarily ceased his grumbling.

The handicap prize went to Pete Bullock who shot an impressive nett 71 after a slow start.

Bullcok was the master of the par three holes, claiming two prizes on the seventh and the ninth as he went along and four pars on the back nine improved his score somewhat.

Runner-up was Paul Harmer who started well but struggles to hole putts all day to limp in with nett 75.

Former president, Shane Anderson, was in the box seat after nine holes, but faded badly to miss out on the prizes by a countback.

The C Grade was won by our local hero, Shane McPherson, who carded a very respectable 91 as he finds a rich vein of form.

Bendigo Bank spokesperson Mark Edwards finished runner-up with nett 93.

The handicap prize was won by Sam Hill, who shot nett 73.

Hill was a little inconsistent as he alternated between pars and double bogeys, but still did enough to win the prize from David Strother.

The other nearest the pins were won by Greg Hutchesson on the 13th and Terry Chant on the 16th.

Long drives were won by Terry Chant, John Wilkinson and Peter Kitchingham in their respective grades.

Full results here.