Among a field of more than 200 at Warrnambool Golf Club's long-running Legacy Day competition on Saturday, the 38-year-old finished with 44 points ahead of Stephen Ellery on 43. Helen Fagan and Sheryl Nicolson were the highest ranked women in the stableford event, each with 37 points.

Bonham said it was a "good, solid round for a 25 handicap" but was surprised to learn he had won the trophy.

"This is absolutely the pinnacle of my golfing career at this point," he said. "I did have a good day but thought there might be one or two others that would go ahead of me. Hopefully we can do well and back it up again next year. It was a good day... and a good event. The support the Warrnambool Golf Club can give to the association (Legacy) is definitely very good."

The father-of-three, who birdied on the 18^th hole, said he had focused on fairway hits as he tried "not to over-muscle too many shots".

The former junior baseball national champion has played golf socially his entire life but joined the Warrnambool Golf Club in August in an effort to "play week-in, week-out" and lower his handicap.

"Saturday morning comp days I come out and have a hit... and try and get out middle of the week in holidays but that's few and far between," he said.

Bonham, who works at The Standard, said the win was a confidence-booster as he continues to refine his golf game.

"Just a few of the changes I've been making with my game is starting to become a little bit more fruitful," he said. "We'll continue that journey and hopefully go alright."

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