Ben Rainbird wins New Norfolk Golf Club Championship

Ben Rainbird won his 22nd A-grade New Norfolk Golf Club Championship title a day after his 50th Birthday.

Ben shot rounds of 69-73-70-66 to finish two over par with a fine final round 3 under par score to win easily by ten shots.

He said his motivation comes from his days as a junior.

"I finished runner-up to the likes of Larry Young in the first four or five championships.

“After winning a couple, I won ten straight at one point and the last four in a row.

“Those early years before I broke through taught me a lot about myself, and my motivation comes from then and practising consistently to stay at the level I need to be at.”

Leigh Post finished runner-up and shot 66 in the final round.

“Ben's a great mate, a legend and being runner-up to him hurts, but it's never a disgrace,” Leigh said.

The Derwent Valley Open, scheduled for next weekend, will see the friendly rivalry between Ben and Leigh continue, with other A graders, Luke Wardlaw, who finished 1 shot behind Post in the recent championships, John Smith, and Justin Rainbird, also contenders. 

The B-grade NNGC champion was Les McKenzie, Don Armstrong took out the C-grade title, and in the veterans section, Craig Youd won the title.