FOR the fourth time in five years the combination of Paul Bright and Jarryd Bird has proven successful in one of the Bathurst Golf Club’s annual competitions as they paired up to take out the A grade foursomes championship on the weekend.

Two of the most prolific golfers at the club in recent years in terms of their individual play, they have also been almost unbeatable in the alternate shot format.

Last year they won by nine shots, so they began the 2014 competition as strong favourites.

It was a tag they certainly lived up to.

Though their second round wasn’t as strong as they would have liked, the pair were comfortably able to hold off runners-up Darryn Bruce and Paul Waine by eight shots.

“We both a bit worried towards the end on Sunday, the conditions were pretty ordinary because of the wet and the wind and we weren’t playing all that well,” Bird said.

“But having that big lead meant that someone had to try and track us down and it wasn’t the sort of day where that was going to be easy.”

After round one the Bird-Bright team had a commanding eight-shot lead, having fired an even-par 71. At that stage Waine and Bruce were their nearest rivals.

Both pairs then shot an 80 in the second round, giving Bird and Bright yet another crown.

On the surface the idea of foursomes golf requires players hitting good shots to assist their partner in order to be successful, but it is not quite as basic as that.

“We have been playing together for a long time now,” Bird said of his combination with his big-hitting team-mate.

“Before each shot we have a bit of a chat about where we’d like to set it up from, where the other player wants it or where the best place to miss would be.”

Bird hasn’t been at his best over the last 12 months, but a top 10 showing in the A grade Club Championship recently was a good sign. 

A new coach also has him in a positive frame of mind.

“I haven’t been going very well, it’s been ordinary for a while,” Bird said in self-deprecating fashion.

“I’ve started working with a new coach in Orange though and things are actually starting to come together which is a very good feeling. 

“For the time being I’ll just be playing the club stuff here, but will be looking towards the opens later in the year.”

In the lower grades on Sunday, Max Cole and John Ryan took out B grade by a single shot from Scott McMah and John Perfect.

Ben Matheson and Adam Hodges won the A grade handicap title with Peter Ward and Christian Dowling winning on handicap in B grade.