MARK Johnson held off a fast-finishing Kurt Pideski to win the Wagga Country Club championship by one shot.
It is Johnson’s second club championship and comes 14 years after he triumphed as a 17-year-old back in 2001.
Johnson entered the final two rounds with a seven-shot lead and snuck home by one after a tense finish on Sunday.
The first round last Saturday was washed out and Johnson set up the victory with a two under par 70 on Sunday, before shooting 78 and 76 on the weekend.
Pideski and Henry Brind both challenged in Sunday’s final round but Johnson held his nerve for a one-shot victory.
Johnson admitted the final round was a little nerve-wracking.
“I can’t say I’ve ever had a seven shot lead before,” Johnson said.
“So I didn’t know how to handle it to be honest.
“I was playing against some quality golfers so I didn’t expect to lead by seven so I was a bit unsure how to approach it.
“I tried to go out there and play my normal game and just scraped home.”
Johnson, 31, has only been back in Wagga six months after spending close to 10 years in Sydney with his golf.
He tried to turn professional 18 months ago but how now decided on a return to Wagga, where he has started to play more regularly in recent months.
