Sheldon Eley finally broke Ryan Kneale’s strangle-hold on the Country Week golf grass greens, gross division trophy on Friday, despite entering the competition a little unprepared.

The teenager shot an impressive 69 around the Geraldton Golf Club lay out on Thursday to set up his seven-shot win.

He finished with a final score of 146 after a 77 on his home course, Spalding Park Golf Club, on Friday.

Kneale finished runner-up with 153 gross but won the nett competition.

His round on Friday included a hole-in-one on Spalding’s 15th hole.

The joy was short lived.

He landed his second shot on the 18th on the practice putting green.

His approach landed just short of the green and he escaped with a bogey but it was all too late for the reigning four-time champion.

Eley said his scrambling skills played a big role in him winning his first Country Week crown.

“I scrambled well on Thursday and get the ball close enough that I could just tap it in most the time,” he said.

“I did not play any of the other days of golf so was a little unprepared.

“I thought I was pretty consistent and played my normal game each day.”

The reigning Spalding Park club champion was pleased to be playing his home course on the second day.

“I have played the course for 11 years so obviously that helped,” he said.

“The pin placements were the same as they are for the open so I know them well.

“I was happy just to get the win in my third try.”

Newman’s Tony Knowlson won the sand greens gross competition with a score of 162.

Jurien Bay’s Luke Rose finished runner-up.

Steve Preston of Karratha won the nett competition in the sand green category with Morawa’s Peter Thornton finishing a close second.