Dale Crothers has lead wire-to-wire to win the 2019 Vic/Tas/SA PGA Trainee Championships by six shots at Tocumwal Golf and Bowls Club.

The Year 1 Trainee at the Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort lead by two overnight and shot a final round of 1-under 71 around the Captains course to record a comfortable victory.

The forecast for the final round was for cold, wet and windy conditions but players woke to a calm, cool and overcast day which was a welcome surprise while overnight rain softened conditions on the Captains course.

“It’s been a great week,” said Crothers. “I hit the ball great all week and it’s fantastic to win my first State Trainee title.”

Crothers was 1-under through 9 holes to lead by three shots before his closest challenger, Brayden Petersen, recorded back-to-back bogeys on the 11^th and 12^th holes compared to two birdies for Crothers to extend the lead to seven shots.

Crothers finished with a tournament record total of 17-under 271 with Petersen in outright second on 277.

Sharing third was defending champion Frazer Droop and last years runner-up Mitch Gannon on 279. In outright fifth was Cooper Eccleston on 280.

The leading woman was Rebecca West who completed the tournament in outright 37^th on 14-over 302.

With his win Crothers not only claimed the Vic/Tas/SA PGA Trainee title but also the Victorian Trainee Championship which was played concurrently during the tournament.

Jarryd Collis, Trainee at the Prospect Vale Golf Club, claimed the Tasmanian Trainee Championship.

The South Australian Trainee Championship was won by Jordan Bishop, from the Grange Golf Club, by four shots over Connor Chant.