Warrnambool's Lauren Higgins showed nerves of steel to win via a play-off at the Westcoast Open Amateur

The old adage rang true as Warrnambool's Lauren Higgins showed nerves of steel to salute via a play-off in the Westcoast Open Amateur on Sunday.

The remedial masseuse - part of a two-woman field in the Golf Australia event - trailed opponent Di Robinson by two shots heading into the final day at Port Fairy.

She slipped to four behind but held her nerve to claw the margin back and forced a play-off. After 73 holes of golf, just one putt split the pair.

"My feeling was just to stay really patient," Higgins, the ladies' captain at Warrnambool Golf Club, said.

"We were having two-shot turnarounds on holes, so I thought 'this can be done'.

"I just tried to concentrate on staying on the fairway, which I did. I don't think I had a drive off the fairway so I was happy with that.

"I just tried to get the putts up close and not make too many mistakes - no disasters."

Despite her experience at Warrnambool, Higgins' Port Fairy rounds laid the foundations for her triumph.

She shot 85 on both Friday and Sunday at Port Fairy - eight shots better than her opponent - while Robinson won both Warrnambool rounds by a total of eight shots.

Gusty winds and rain dominated play, particularly on Saturday.

"I've never played golf in wind like (Saturday), it was just atrocious," Higgins said.

"We had to wait for the hail on one green to melt before we could putt.

"I wasn't physically tired by the end of the day - I had played 36 holes - but the wind was just ferocious." Men's winner Tim Walker, however, was at his best when the weather was at its worst. Walker, a Yarra Yarra Golf Club member, shot a stunning 147 from 36 holes at Warrnambool on Saturday to set up his triumph. He shot 291 overall.

Port Fairy member Noah Best was the best south-west male, finishing tied for sixth.

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