Burns earned his first club championship by beating incumbent champion Scott Boschen in a thrilling one-hole playoff last year.

Boschen was again runner-up this year, but that was where the similarities ended.

Burns powered ahead to win by 12 strokes, shooting rounds of 71, 75, 71 and 73 for an aggregate of 290.

Last year, Boschen and Burns were tied with an aggregate of 294 after the final round.

Burns said he was in slightly better form than a year ago. “I think I am in better form than last year, but only by a couple of strokes,” he said.

“I was a little bit better and the conditions were tougher in the first few rounds compared to last year.

“The conditions last year were much better, so that made it hard.”

The 22-year-old has had some good battles with Boschen, finishing runner-up to the former champion in 2012 by three strokes.

He said he felt less pressure than he had a year ago.

“It’s a bit easier to sleep when you’ve already won one and you’re in front by a bit – there’s definitely less pressure on you,” he said.

Burns said he was weighing up his options for the future and considering whether to keep playing amateur golf or trying to make it as a professional.

Travis Worthy was the men’s A Grade handicap winner with a 220 nett score.

Grant Wright took the intermediate scratch competition with a 334 aggregate, and Mick Fletcher posted a 216 nett to take the handicap.

In B Grade competition, Robert Pizzoni’s 352 saw him claim the scratch win, while Rob Betts shot a 221 handicap score to win.

The C Grade division saw wins to Ron Pouliot with a 380 scratch score and Bradley Grainger with a 227 nett.