George and Ben Matheson won the 2009 Australian father and son amateur golf championships at the Country Club Tasmania on December 13.

The duo shot a winning total of 139 points for the four- ball stableford event played over 36 holes.

“My wife Debbie gave me the voucher to compete in the event for Father’s Day and Ben the same for Christmas,” George said.

“It was a chance to catch up with Ben and spend a bit of time together playing golf.

“Even though I see Ben a fair bit, it was still a great chance to spend some time together without the girls – and we hadn’t been to Tasmania before.”

“We didn’t go down to win - that was a bonus.”

The men now have the opportunity to go to Spain in October to contest the 2010 European father and son championships.

The package includes five nights at the Portaventura Resort in Salou and competition entry.

“We have until the end of April next year to make up our minds to go, but it really is the opportunity of a lifetime,” George said.

Ben, 25, is second-in-charge green keeper at Hawks Nest Golf Club where his father is also a member.

A field of 76 local and interstate golfers teed off in the Tasmanian event.