CENTRAL West District Golf Association secretary Peter Mitchell refused to rule out his side’s chance of victory at this weekend’s NSW Country Golf Championship, but he’s fully aware of how tough a battle it will be to win.

Mitchell is joined by fellow Duntryleague guns Robert Payne, Andy Campbell and James Conran in the Central West side at this weekend’s championship, along with Mudgee’s Mark Hale and Bathurst’s Phil Campbell.

Wollongong Golf Club plays host to the competition, which is split into a 36-hole individual stroke tournament along with the Inter-District Teams Challenge, and Mitchell said as a side Central West was a hope of claiming the latter title.

“I certainly wouldn’t say we’re not a chance at all,” he said.

“I’d suggest the Canberra-based team will be very strong though, as will the Mid North Coast and Newcastle teams. They have very big drawing areas though, so they’re always going to be strong.”

Individually, Mitchell said Payne was his side’s best hope of winning a title.

“I’d say Payney will definitely be top 10 if he plays well, he’s a chance,” Mitchell said.

“We’re not a bad side all round really. Payney is playing well, Andy Campbell is playing well, James Conran is playing very good golf too.

“Mark Hale, from Mudgee, has a couple of Open wins this year and Phil Campbell, from Bathurst, has been playing really good golf too.

“Then there’s me. I’m not playing well.

“There’s a few guys I’d have liked to have in the side instead of me, but they weren’t available, so I’m putting my hand up.”

Mitchell said a little bit of pre-trip information on the course could help his side’s cause.

“I’ve got a mate down there I was talking to, while he was playing, and he said it’s in very good condition,” Mitchell said.

“Overall it’s a really good weekend, so hopefully we can play some pretty good golf.”

The side tees off at 1pm today, in a shotgun start, and 7am tomorrow.

CENTRAL WEST DISTRICT GOLF ASSOCIATION: Robert Payne, Andy Campbell, James Conran, Peter Mitchell (Duntryleague), Mark Hale (Mudgee), Phil Campbell (Bathurst).

DUNTRYLEAGUE’S James Conran has every reason for confidence in this weekend’s NSW Country Championship after his performance at the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation Bonville Champions Trophy this week.

The Bonville Champions Trophy is an invitation-only event, and players must win the scratch division of a JNJG tour event to qualify, which the 16-year-old did in a three-way play-off at the Western Sydney Junior Masters earlier this year.

Only open to 32 qualifiers - the best 32 junior golfers in the state, essentially - Conran finished the Bonville Champions Trophy tied for third after a 72-hole score of 292, four over par.

Conran opened his campaign with an ever-par 72 on Tuesday, then shot a two-under 70 on day two to sit in second place.

A third-round 76, four over, slipped Conran slightly down the leaderboard, and his two-over round of 74 yesterday  left him tied for third with The Australian Golf Club’s Isaac Noh.

The pair were seven shots adrift of the eventual winner, Concord’s Jason Hong, who finished three under and was the only golfer to finish the tournament under par.