Brent McEwan carded a four-round score of 291 to win the North Otago spring tournament in fine conditions in Oamaru during the weekend.
He finished two shots ahead of Queenstown junior Samson Kim. Michael Smith (Otago) was third, two shots further back.
McEwan has a liking for the North Otago course, having now won this event six times. This year's title was his fifth in a row.
He carded an 8-under-par 64 on the course in 2002 and holds the course record with a 9-under 63 which he shot in 2006.
But the event this year was the most nervous weekend for Otago's top golfer as he and his partner, Shannon, are expecting their first child any day now.
Despite fine weather and a course in good condition, the players found difficulty posting low scores.
Mark Collie (Chisholm Park), Simon Hollyer (Queenstown) and Michael Minty (St Clair) shared the lead after the first round with 1-over 73s.
As in many four round events, the third round on Sunday morning was the moving round and McEwan made his charge.
With birdies on the second, fourth, fifth and eighth holes, McEwan turned 4-under on 33 to take the tournament lead.
He started his homeward nine in similar fashion, birdieing the 10th and 11th holes to go 6-under-par and well in front.
His birdie blitz came to an abrupt end with a bogey 6 at the 12th and a bogey 5 at the 14th, while the rest of his round remained birdieless.
Many of the other leading contenders fell by the way in the third round and McEwan's 68 was sufficient to give him a six-shot lead over Smith going into the final round.
McEwan finished with a 3-over 75 in the final round but the damage was done, as he had shut out the opposition in the morning round.
One of the dirt-trackers who played in a 36-hole event in conjunction with the championship had his moment of glory, not matched by the senior golfers.
David McKenzie (North Otago) holed in one with a 6 iron on the 139m par-3 17th during the Sunday round.
