GOLF: Don't worry about a bad first hole, there are 17 to come, and that was exactly what Barry Brown Jnr took advantage of in winning the Medal of Medallists at Allora on Sunday.

He started the first down the New England Hwy fence with an eight, three over, and then hit five birdies on the next 17 holes to finish with 74 off the stick, six over par.

Brown plays off a handicap of 11 so finished five shots better than the rating from the handicapper and won with a net 63.

He has a best on his home course at Allora of 70 off the stick when he won the Allora Open Carnival last year.

On Sunday, eight players vied for the Medal of Medallists for 2016 as part of the January monthly medal.

Brown and Matt May each won three monthly medals during the year, which meant there were only eight qualifiers.

"I used to play golf on the old sand greens at Killarney and once the course at Killarney was moved, we moved to Allora,” he said.

"I first played as a junior at age 12 and am now 26.”

The win on Sunday follows two major successes last year, Allora Open and matchplay championship wins.

"I am playing the best golf of my career,” Brown said.

"My main focus last year was to better myself each week and I reduced my handicap from 24 to 11 and am now back to 10.”

Brown will be aiming to make it to the final again but better keep an eye on the first winner for 2017, Michael Pugliese.

Pugliese shot 87 off the stick and with a handicap of 30 ended with a 57 net on Sunday.

"It was my best round by 10 shots,” he said.