NEWLY-CROWNED Warrnambool Golf Club A grade champion Sam Astbury is ready to turn his focus to football.
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The result capped off a remarkable rise - in 2015 he won the club's D grade title.
"I didn't think in my wildest dreams (I'd win an A grade title)," he said.
"I was off 26 and to be playing off one now (is amazing).
"A lot of golf gets played over summer. I'll probably have a break with footy now so I finished off on a high."
Astbury and Gillin were tied on 147 at the halfway mark of the competition.
But the younger of the two produced a two-over par 74 third round on Saturday to give himself some breathing space.
Gillin had 81 and eventual equal third placegetter Jarrod Fary 76.
"I shot two-under front nine which was really good, there were some really awesome clutch putts and and chips made," Astbury said of his round three efforts.
"I hung in there on the back nine. The two-over helped me a lot today, that five-shot lead took a lot of weight off my shoulders."
Astbury shot a final-round 78 on Sunday to finish the four-round competition with 299.
Gillin (302) fired 74 and Fary 79 (305).
Luke Williams, who was playing in a different group, finished tied with Fary for third.
Astbury said his fourth round was a mixed bag.
"I was really nervous but relieved the round is over to be honest," he said.
"The front nine I shot even-par which I was very happy with, a lot of clutch putts made, and then rolling up to the back nine I sort of had a good drive on 10 and made a bogey which wasn't too bad.
"The bogeys kept rolling along and I got a bit nervous but my caddy Kieran (Timms) kept me in it and kept my nerves down which was good."
Astbury was aware a crowd flocked to watch the final hole.
"I pulled my drive out left. I was just hoping it wasn't dead in the trees," he said.
"I was out there so I got a little chip over and was quite nervous with my third shot on to the green.
"I put it long which is not what I wanted to do but I two-putted it so I was pretty happy."
Joe Hakimi (316) won B grade from Lachie Peters (327).
C grade went to Ashley Watts (354) from Peter Holscher (361) and Grant Elson (388) was victorious in D grade from Peter Struth (407).
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