THE 2014/15 Race to Bonville National Final has been run and won and while Queensland's Donal Bowe took top spot on the leader board he wasn't the only winner.
For all 30 golfers who represented their states the Final was, again, a once in a lifetime experience.
The Race Series National Final is fast earning a reputation as one of the great experiences in amateur golf and even the cynical among the assembled group for this fifth edition realised on the first tee there is more pressure here than meets the eye.
“There was hardly a word spoken in our group for the first four holes because everyone was feeling it,” said South Australia's Michael Haberfield after the opening round.
“It was nerve wracking, but in a good way.”
After more than 2,500 rounds at 32 events across the country, the field that gathered at Bonville Rolf Resort undoubtedly earned their way in and what they found on arrival was a layout well up to the challenge.
Despite more than 400mm of rain the previous week (180mm of it in a two hour window on the Saturday prior to the event) the staff at the award winning resort did an amazing job to get the course playable in time for the practise rounds Monday. They wildly exceeded expectations with their presentation for the first round Tuesday.
The Bonville layout proved tricky for the field on day one with only two players breaking their handicaps in the first round.
Tasmanian 2-marker Dean Slater and Western Australian 16 handicapper Todd Christensen both returned scores of 37 points, one ahead of WA's Bryon Tuckey and South Australia's Mark Foley.
Eventual winner Donal Bowe was outright fifth on 34 points, tellingly the only player in the field not to record a wipe in the stableford format at the final.
2014/15 RACE TO BONVILLE NATIONAL FINAL HIGHLIGHTS:
Day two proved even harder going than the first day with eventual winner Bowe the only player to break handicap with 37 points and South Australia's Michael Haberfield the only player to return 36.
Haberfield shared overall second with Queensland's Scott Hedger on a total of 67 points for the two rounds, Bryon Tuckey (WA), Dean Slater (Tas) and Mark Foley (SA) all sharing fourth on 66.
The highly sought after teams title, which sees the best four of the team's five scores count each day, was taken out by Queensland for the third time with a total of 288 points.
South Australia were second on 267 followed by NSW (257), Western Australia (251), Victoria (234) and Tasmania on 221.
Like all events of this scale the Race Series relies on sponsors to exist and all are to be applauded for making the competition such a great one.
Bonville Golf Resort is always an exceptional venue but in light of the conditions this year the team are due a special thanks for the work they did to get the course not only playable but looking superb.
Caddie Challenge have been a great supporter of the Race to Bonville and it is no surprise their innovative concept is proving a big hit in the Australian golf market place.
The support of Golf Magazine has been crucial to the success of the Race Series and their involvement again this year is greatly appreciated.
Cobra Puma Golf could hardly have been more generous with prizes for the event and the three top place individual finishers will be particularly pleased with the stunning golf bags they have won.
Victoria's Adam Sutherland is sporting a wide grin after winning a Golf Buddy PT4 GPS for his nearest the pin effort on day two while individual grade winners will no doubt enjoy the spoils of their work thanks to the Golf Link Wine Club.
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