Prolific Eden golfer Andrew Collins won his fourth straight men’s golf championship recently.
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The Eden resident, whose handicap is sitting about the plus two mark, is at the top of his game.
With strong camaraderie in the club and a desire to win, Collins plans to keep it that way.
“There’s always a bit of fun trash talk heading in to an event like that and it’s always good when you prove them wrong,” Collins said.
“Everyone is out there to win and you get a bit of cynicism, but it’s all tongue-in-cheek.”
He still has plenty of enthusiasm to go for the next championship too.
“I’m a fairly competitive person by nature.
“If I am around, I’ll definitely be in it to try and win another one.”
Playing on the course for about 12 years now, Collins knows the course well.
“I suppose being your home track, you have somewhat of an affinity to it.
“But no more so than any other course, it’s just a matter of home is where the heart is I guess.
“I moved to Melbourne temporarily, but I’ve always been a member at Eden.”
Competing with mates and enjoying a friendly rivalry is part of the drive, Collins said.
“Over the years there has been different people, like the Robbie Miller and the Tynan Shearers.
“And now Matty Creswick and Adam Inwood.
“They keep me motivated.
“I like to stay out and try to beat them.”
Most of the players are good mates and as intense as it might get on the course, everyone enjoys hanging out.
“We play pennant golf and stuff together so we spend a lot of time travelling, you come home for a few beers, a chat and that afterwards.”
Collins also holds bragging rights to the Eden club’s course record.
He just wasn’t sure if it was before or after the eighth hole was changed a few years ago.
“I shot a couple of different scores there, if they were on the current eighth or on the old course we couldn’t really remember.
“I’ve definitely shot some good scores with the new eighth.
“There is some cards hiding around somewhere with the scores, but no-one can find them,” he said with a laugh.
Meanwhile, Eden men’s golf president John Fletcher thought he set the record on the new course.
“He set the course record after the eighth hole was changed a few years back,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher holds Collins’ talents in a very high regard.
“It is beyond doubt that he is the best golfer the club has had as a member.
“He is very deserving of the win and I look forward to seeing him compete again in the future,” he said.
When pressed as to who might win between Collins and golf professional Loraine Lambert, Fletcher had this to say.
“I’ll put my money on Andrew; in Loraine’s prime she would give anyone a run for their money, but she doesn’t play enough now.”
Meanwhile, Collins is encouraging anyone interested to take up the sport.
“I went down and had a game [of golf] with a mate, I loved and it and I haven’t stopped playing it.
“I started playing socially and then I got more and more keen.
“I love golf ... it’s a doorway to the world ... it is a good opportunity in general.”