Golf
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HE MAY have won the Griffith Golf Club Championship 11 times in the past, but Matthew Staines still felt a buzz of excitement after securing title number 12 on Sunday.
Leading by two strokes heading into the final two rounds, Staines broke away from the field to finish seven shots clear of nearest rival Jason Magoci.
Staines carded rounds of 69, 74, 72 and 75 to win the tournament, though the 27-year-old admitted Sunday didn't go to plan.
"Realistically, I had no idea where it (the ball) was going," Staines said.
"I was just trying to hit it and then fix what was in front of me.
"Saturday I got up and down all right and scrambled for par.
"But Sunday I sort of went to sleep halfway through and scrambled around the back nine."
Not that Staines ever felt in danger of losing his lead.
After winning his first club championship at 15, Staines feels as comfortable walking around the Griffith fairways as he does his own backyard.
"I always feel good out there," Staines said.
"If you start letting demons creep in, you lose it for yourself in that respect.
"I always try and keep a positive attitude, irrespective of what gets dished up when you're playing.
"You can hit a good shot and end up with a poor result or vice-versa.
"It's just part and parcel of the game."
So is the thrill of winning, which Staines hasn't tired of.
"It's always exciting to win," he said. "It doesn't matter if it's your first (title), 10th or whatever.
"You still always get a lot out of it."
Next on Staines's agenda is the NSW Country Championship in Parkes on the first weekend of November.
The two-day event typically attracts the state's best country golfers and is already on his resume.
"I won it back when I was 20," Staines said.
"If I can put a couple of decent rounds together, I think I'm a chance.
"I can't relate anything to what's happened the last few days (at Griffith Golf Club) because every day in golf is different.
"I'll have a couple of weeks' break, start again and we'll see how I go."