FALMOUTH – Chris Swift of New Canaan, Conn., made only two pars on the front nine in the final round of the New England Amateur golf tournament Thursday at the Falmouth Country Club.
Swift, though, made four birdies.
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“When you make more birdies than bogeys, it really doesn’t matter,” said Swift.
Swift used an aggressive style for his first amateur win, finishing the 72-hole tournament at 2-under 282 for a five-shot victory.
Forty-two players who made the 36-hole cut Wednesday played another 36 holes Thursday. Swift started the day with a one-shot lead over Casey Komline of Dorset, Vt.
Komline shot himself out of contention with a third-round 77. Swift started the fourth round with a two-shot lead over Colin Brennan of Andover, Mass., who was in the twosome ahead. Brennan fell back with a final-round 76.
The only other challenge came from Jake Nutter of Bedford, N.H., early in the final round. Nutter, who was in the first group off No. 1 in the afternoon, got within two shots after Swift bogeyed Nos. 5 and 6. Swift then birdied Nos. 7, 8 and 9 for some breathing room.
Swift knew if he avoided any stumbles on the back nine, the tournament was his.
He didn’t ask anyone how he stood until he was walking to the 18th tee.
Once he found out, Swift said: “The pressure was off.”
This was Swift’s first New England Amateur.
“I’m 1 for 1,” he said. “I never won a junior tournament so this feels pretty good.”
Swift, a sophomore at Marquette University in Milwaukee, had rounds of 68-69-73-72. His final 18 was comprised of seven pars, six bogeys and five birdies.
“I kind of coasted on the back nine and protected my lead. I knew if I made no double bogeys, no one would catch me,” he said.
Swift sealed the tournament with his birdie trifecta to close out the front nine.
After three-putting No. 6 for a bogey, Swift drove the downhill, par-4 seventh with a 3-wood. His shot ended up on the back fringe, where he two-putted for a birdie.
The tees were moved up on the hole to give the players the option of going for the green.
“It was 303 yards to the front edge. A driver would have been too much,” said Swift.
On the next hole, a par 5 measuring 510 yards, Swift pushed his drive into the right rough.
“I didn’t have a very good lie so I chopped down on a 3-iron,” he said.
The ball flew out of the rough and headed for the left side of the green, where it ended up 15 feet from the cup. Another two-putt, another birdie.
On No. 9, Swift’s wedge shot stopped 10 feet above the cup. He knocked it in and gave a little fist pump.
“Those birdies kept my spirits high,” he said.
Swift bogeyed three of his first four holes on the back. The lone dissenter was a birdie on 11. Swift closed with five pars.
“I drove the ball really well,” he said. “Most of the time I was only 60 yards away on the par 4s. I play aggressively. That’s my style. “
Nutter tied for second with two others at 287: Herbie Aikens of Kingston, Mass., and Garren Poirier of Killington, Vt.
John Hayes IV of Cape Elizabeth and Colin Brennan of Andover, Mass., were next at 288.
Hayes went 76-68-76-68 to lead the four other Maine players who made the cut.
“I played well today,” said Hayes. “I made eagle on the par-5 eighth, which was a huge momentum boost. I played well last week at the Maine Amateur and it carried over.”
Hayes made par on No. 18 from the front bunker, sinking a 12-footer.
“I was scrambling on the last two holes. It felt good to make par on 18,” he said.
Hayes is transferring from Towson (Md.) University to the University of Colorado, where he hopes to earn a spot on the golf team.
Nutter said he heard on the course that the leader had fallen back slightly.
“I knew I was close,” he said. “I hit a lot of greens but I didn’t make as many putts as I should have. I’m pleased with the way I played. I hit the ball well all week. I didn’t lose a ball and I didn’t make a double bogey.”
Judd Parsons of York finished at 292. Seth Sweet of Madison, the Maine Amateur champion, was at 295 and Tommy Stirling of Gorham came in at 304. Stirling scored a hole-in-one on the 196-yard, 11th hole in the fourth round.
Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:
tchard@pressherald.com
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