TIM Hyland won his second straight Morgans’ Seaside Classic yesterday in a tense play-off at Port Macquarie Golf Club.
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Hyland, a Bonville Golf Resort member, defended the title over good mate Jack Poutney, from Moore Park Golf Club.
The pair know each other from Coffs Harbour, stayed in Port Macquarie together during the Classic, and drove back home together after the event.
Hyland carded rounds of 72 and 69 to give him 141. Poutney had 70 and 71 to give him the same score.
Hyland birdied the play-off hole, the par five first, with his third shot finishing an inch from the cup.
Poutney just missed his putt and had to settle for par and the runner-up spot.
Hyland had an fantastic run on the back nine to force the play-off. He was four under after those last nine.
He sunk a huge 25 foot putt across the hill on the last hole to force the play-off.
The nerves were high, but Hyland said that as soon as he hit it, he thought it was going close.
“I just had to trust my line,” he said.
“I knew it had a chance to go in.”
It was an eerily similar set of circumstances to his win last year. It was also down to a play-off, but Hyland had to also play the ninth before securing the win in 2014.
He rated this year’s victory as a better achievement than last year’s. Hyland said a stiff breeze made things harder this time around.
Should all go to plan, a hat-trick of titles won’t be available for Hyland.
He aims to turn professional before the next classic rolls around.
“I’ll have to do the pro-am instead,” he said.
Port local Wayne Stewart was high on the leaderboard, carding 144 over the two rounds.
Jackson Jubelin had 146.
More than 200 players took part this year.