Clarke claimed the title by five strokes on the final day of the event at the Ballarat Golf Club on Friday.

He entered Friday with a 10-stroke lead up his sleeve to finish with an even 288 to take the crown.

He edged out runner-up David Faher who led Clarke at the end of the first day by three shots.

Clarke said the win was better than his first, having done it on his home course.

"I've been playing this event since I was 16 and I've finished runner-up six or seven times, so to come back home to do it here is a bit sweeter," he said.

"I knew I was going to be hard to beat, and I knew if I played a half consistent round on the final day I'd be alright."

Clarke trailed Faher by three strokes after day one before scoring a 68 on Wednesday and a 69 on Thursday which included three birdies and zero bogeys.

"I had a hand injury and broke my finger in October," Clarke said.

"The first round it took some time for me to find confidence back in my game again to be able to hit the shots I wanted to."

Clarke said the weather, which took a turn for the worst at the beginning of the week, worked in his favour as the tournament wore on.

"I've been a member here for years, I know where not to hit it, especially when the conditions aren't great, so I knew if I trusted my game I should be fine."

Meanwhile the wet and windy conditions seemed to have little effect on North Queenslander Lorna Forrest who took the women's title.

The Mackay native took a 12-stroke lead into the final day to win the tournament with a score of 393.

Forrest, who won a national seniors indigenous tournament two years ago said the win came as a real surprise.

"It's a lovely feeling to win a big competition like this," she said.

It was the first visit to Ballarat for Forrest who said she could barley feel her hands after coming off the course on Friday.

Despite the cold, she said she enjoyed visiting the city.

"It was a beautiful course, It was very challenging but it was a nice course to play," she said.

"It was very hilly, not like Mackay which is quite flat."

Far North Queensland teenager Tom Whittle took out the juniors title in impressive fashion.

Whittle has been in top form in recent months, winning a number of Queensland junior titles.

He said he found the Ballarat course wet and cold to play on.