- Golf Australia photo

“I’m definitely on a high,” Stieger said.

“Dad was crying when I spoke to him on the phone – he was ecstatic.”

For Stieger it marks an extraordinary few months including winning the Tasmanian Open, joining the National Squad and now winning the Amateur and but said he was determined to keep his feet on the ground.

“Golf is a funny game. One day you can go out and shoot six under, the next day six over. You can never get too far ahead of yourself, you’ve got to do more practice to keeping getting better and that’s where my mindset is and it’s working for me,” the St Michael’s Golf Club member said.

The match was a thrilling affair and Stieger took the advantage with a birdie on the 17th hole. It was Campbell’s second consecutive Srixon Australian Amateur final.

Stieger said he was going to take a brief break before getting ready for his next events.

“I’ll put the clubs down for a week after playing so much golf without a break and relax and prepare for Mandurah, Keperra and the other events I’m playing.”

In winning the championship, Stieger earns exemptions into the 2011 Australian Open and 2011 British Amateur Championship.

MEN'S FINAL

Matthew Stieger (NSW) def Ben Campbell (NZ) 1up

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Srixon Australian Women’s Amateur Championship

Tasmanian Ashlee Dewhurst won her first Srixon Australian Amateur Championship on the 38th hole in a pulsating match with WA’s Minjee Lee at Victoria Golf Club.

“It’s overwhelming, I still can’t believe it,” Dewhurst said. “This is the biggest thing I’ve ever won.”

For Lee, who is just 14, there will be many more chances and Dewhurst said her putting got her over the line.

“I made a fair few clutch putts out there and I felt sorry for Minjee when I sometimes didn’t hit it that well but made the putts,” Dewhurst, a Royal Hobart member, said.

Dewhurst, who was 1up going down the 18th, three putted to lose the hole and sent the match to extra holes. She birdied the 37th and then had a par on the 38th to complete the victory.

“After I beat Lydia Ko in the quarter finals, I really started to think they I could win the tournament,” said Dewhurst.

“Normally I don’t play that well on courses that have a bit of a links feel to them but it seemed to work out pretty well this week.”

Dewhurst gains an exemption into the 2012 Women’s Australian Open with her victory.

WOMEN'S FINALAshlee Dewhurst (TAS) def Minjee Lee (WA) 38th