IN a strong final round, Port Macquarie golfer Andrew Kirkman took out the NSW Country Golf Championships held at Parkes over the weekend.
Mr Kirkman, who trailed half-way leader Robert Payne of Orange by five shots after Saturday's first round, blazed home with a three-under par round of 68.
This added to his first round score of 72, which gave him a two-under par score of 140 for the 36-hole championship.
Moruya's Gavin Fitzgerald survived the three-way count back for the runner-up position.
Springwood's Josh Cabban finished in third place after edging out Robert Payne on a count back, both having finished on 142.
The 2014 championships were played under varying weather conditions, with Saturday's first round being played in blustery conditions which saw the Parkes Golf Club losing several trees from the strong north-westerly winds.
The second and final round had players looking for warm clothes as the temperature fell below 10 degrees Celsius.
In the district teams event, the Lower North Coast team took the championship title with a score of 580, five shots clear of defending champions Hunter.
The Central West team came in third with a score of 597, while the Lachlan Valley team came in fifth place with 603.
Parkes Gold Club captain Paul Thomas said the weekend as a whole was a credit to the club.
"The only disappointments of the championship was the non-appearance of two of the State's largest districts, Newcastle and the Mid North Coast as well as the failure of the Far South Coast to field player but we hope these clubs will be represented in the 2015 Championships."
