BOB Hamilton didn’t have words to describe winning the Chris Gryllis Real Estate Golden Eagle Pairs Classic yesterday - but his partner George Ford only needed one.

“Wonderful,” he beamed.

Hamilton from Molong and Ford from Blayney won a see-sawing final 24-14 against Gulgong’s Bruce Hawkins and John Mobbs.

The winners led 8-1 early in the 21-end match before Hawkins and Mobbs came back to lead 10-9.

Neither Hamilton, 61, or Ford, 70, had played in a Golden Eagle final before but their experience ensured they were able to come back and take the win.

“Halfway through I just started to get pumped. The adrenaline was pumping,” Ford said.

“Everything started to fall into place. There were a couple of big bowls from both of us. We kept the pressure on them.”

Hamilton believes it was their consistency all week which led to their success, losing just one match over the four days.

Ford has made the semi-finals before and Hamilton the quarter-finals, but previously had never gone on to win the title.

“I’ve won a bronze (pin) before, but to get a gold, I’m really chuffed,” Ford said.

Hamilton added: “To have made the play-offs before and now to win the gold, it’s just a feeling I can’t explain.”

Earlier in the day the duo beat out Nick Darius and Kevin Fitzpatrick 24-16 in the semi-finals to earn a place in the decider.

Hawkins and Mobbs downed Max Low and Keith Hardwick 24-18 in the other semi-final.

Ford and Hamilton agreed they would be back to try and defend their title in 2011.

The last time a player from the Orange region won the Golden Eagle was in 2005 when Bernie Diduszko claimed the major prize with Cowra’s Gerard Beath, although Diduszko was representing Bathurst City at the time.

n SEMI-FINAL results: Bruce Hawkins and John Mobbs def Max Low and Keith Hardwick 24-18, Bob Hamilton and George Ford def Nick Darius and Kevin Fitzpatrick 24-16.

n FINAL result: Bob Hamilton and George Ford def John Mobbs and Bruce Hawkins 24-14.

n MINOR placings: 3rd Max Low and Keith Hardwick, 4th Nick Darius and Kevin Fitzpatrick, 5th Tony Taylor and Gerard Kebourian, 6th John Adams and Garry Death, 7th Jeff Wade and Lindsay Willding, 8th Steve Carr and Graham Irons.