By Alexander Dabb

Mike Browne and Kathleen Tanner have been crowned Australian Amputee Open champions at Victoria’s Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club

Englishman Browne carded a final round 70 to finish 12 shots clear of second placed Geoff Nicholas in a dominant display across 54 holes, whilst Tanner improved across each round to claim the women’s division for the fourth time.

Browne’s victory was built off an even 72 in the second round, including an eagle on the par 5 eighth, negating the tricky conditions to give himself a seven-stroke advantage heading into the final day.

“Yesterday was a proper test of golf, we had to play every type of shot there was in the wind.”

But conditions improved dramatically on Friday, which Browne pounced upon to put the result beyond doubt.

“Today the wind dropped so it was just nice to get some good drives away and capitalise on that with my short game and holed a lot of putts.

“I had six birdies today so yeah, pretty good.”

The win at Sanctuary Lakes continues a rich vein of form for Browne, who also won the All Abilities Riversdale Cup in March.

In the women’s, Tanner led from start to finish in a small field, displaying the type of form that has seen her cement third place in the WR4GD world stableford rankings.

A member at The Links Shell Cove, New South Wales, Tanner admitted she struggled with putting in the opening rounds, however managed to finish strongly in the final round to claim yet another title.

“I have never played on such fast greens, and coming from New South Wales at the moment where you have to get through water to get to the hole, I was overhitting constantly.

“Today I just read them much much better.”

Both champions are hoping to continue their winning ways in upcoming tournaments, with Browne preparing for DP-tour events in Europe, whilst Tanner will head to the NSW Inclusive Championship in May.

Results