A historic playoff has handed Bargara Golf Club Head Professional Phil Curd his first victory in the Volkswagen Scramble Championship Final on the Sunshine Coast last month.

Curd, one of the biggest supporters of the Volkswagen Scramble has run a local event at his club for 26 consecutive years and never made it through to the Championship Final until this season.

“It’s amazing, 26 years I’ve been going to the Regional Finals and the first time I make the National Final we get up,” said Curd

Beginning the final round in fourth place the team of Tim Russell, Matthew Zillman, Shaun Allen and Jeremy Zahl had their work cut for them to chase down Warwick Golf Club who had lead across the first two days of play.

“We were running fourth coming into the last day and really didn’t know what to expect,” continued Curd.

“We thought we’d just go out and do the best that we could do and we had a good day.”

“We played solid and shot 13-under and then got into the clubhouse and thought we’d still be one or two short.”

Whilst the Bargara team relaxed in the clubhouse they still had to keep an eye on the leaderboard as South Lakes Golf Club had the first chance to snatch the lead.

Needing an eagle on the short par-5 18th they found the putting surface in two but were faced with a sizeable putt.

When the last of the team members, PGA Professional Simon Pope couldn’t covert they tapped in for a birdie which saw them tied on a 54 hole nett score of 161.1.

Now there was only one team left on the course who could claim victory, the overnight leaders Warwick Golf Club. With two holes to play they needed to finish birdie, birdie to claim the title.

After their 25 foot eagle attempts wouldn’t drop Warwick Golf Club, who had lead for the majority of the Championship Final, had fallen short of victory by just .8 of a shot meaning that the teams from Bargara Golf Club and South Lakes Golf Club would return to the 18th tee for the first sudden death playoff in the history of the Scramble.

Approaching the tee in dying light Bargara drew the long straw and lead the playoff away in style.

“We got some nice drives away and it gave us the opportunity to reach the green easily in two, being a par-5,” said Curd

South Lakes followed but were forced to take a drive that finished almost 70 metres behind Bargara meaning that it was near impossible for them to reach the green in two.

Their valiant attempt came up short and they were left with a short shot to get close and put some pressure back on Bargara.

An approach to 15 feet and the subsequent missed birdie putt meant that victory was now almost assured for Bargara.

“We were on the green for two and hit a pretty tough putt and didn’t make it but we left ourselves in a good position to make a birdie; the other boys missed and it fell into our lap and we got it.

“It’s a bit surreal really. It’s been an awesome week, all of my mates who have made the National Final have always told me what a great week it is and I thought at my age, I’m sort of getting on a bit, I’d never get to do it but I did and we won.”

“I’d like to thank Volkswagen and all of the other sponsors for their involvement. We can’t have these events and enjoy it with our members without them,” Curd concluded.