Despite entering the weekend six shots off the pace, Mark Hale was always confident of securing his 15th Branxton Golf Club Championship.

Hale, who was shooting for his eighth consecutive title, had shot a nine-over par scratch 79 in last Sunday’s hot, blustery conditions. He wasn’t concerned.

“It was pretty ordinary (last Sunday) but I was always confident, I knew that if I played to my handicap I’d go close,” he said after the win.

A scratch 70 had drawn Hale to within one shot of leader Mick Tracey, who had taken the lead into the weekend.

In the final round Hale birdied the second, third and fourth holes and a front-nine 33 saw him place one hand on the championship with a three-shot lead.

Hale went on to record 290 over the four days’ play, beating Tracey (293) and Victor Matt (299), who finished second and third.

A strong second weekend saw Tony Lamb jump into fourth spot, while a consistent four-round effort from 18-year-old Cameron Johanson saw him finish fifth.

Tom Foster finished ahead of Mick Auld and Barry Richards to claim the B-grade club championship while Martin Lloyd claimed the title in C-grade.

After 15 titles the focus for Hale is now on getting as close as possible to Jack “The Old Master” Bercini’s record of 32 club championships.

“It’s great to get to 15, but I want to keep getting toward Jack’s record of 32 now,” he said.

“I can’t see it happening though with some of the younger guys coming through – [Hale’s nephew] Corey Lamb plays off eight, and he’s 12 years old.”