Lewiston’s Darling combines luck, confidence to take lead

PORTLAND – Sometimes, many golfers will say, it’s better to be lucky than good.

Bob Darling Jr. of Lewiston was both on Thursday during the second round of the 84th Charlie’s Maine Open Golf Championship at Riverside Municipal Golf Course.

Darling fired a 4-under-par 68 for a two-day total of 135 and enters today’s final round one stroke ahead of Ryan Ouellette of West Palm Beach, Fla., and two strokes ahead of Billy Downes of Hampden, Mass., Jeff Dantas of Pawtucket, R.I., and Rich Parker of Lebanon, N.H., in the chase for the $6,500 first-place check.

Ouellette, who tied for second in the Greater Bangor Open last month, recorded his second straight 68 for 136. Downes, winner of the GBO and New England Open two years ago, and Parker, winner of the ’88 GBO and runner-up in this tournament two years ago, also shot 68s Thursday for 137, while Dantas posted a 69 for his 137.

Mark Fogg, head pro at Gorham Country Club, shot a 70 and is sixth at 138.

Five more players, including low amateur Greg Hanna of Augusta, are tied at 139. Hanna shot a 68 Thursday and leads Mark Plummer of Manchester by a stroke.

First-round leader Ethan Rost of Jefferson City, Mo., was 10 strokes higher Thursday at 76 for 142. The overall cut came at 1-under-par 143, the amateur cut was 150.

Darling’s luck kicked in on the seventh hole, a short par 4 that dips down where the tee shots land and rises steeply up to the green.

“Most of the guys are hitting 2-irons there and leaving themselves 100, 110 yards to the green,” said Darling. “[Wednesday], the pin was in the right front and I was able to spin the ball back and leave myself a 4-foot uphill putt.

“Today, I had a real bad swing and the ball hit short and spun back off the green.”

Part of Darling’s good fortune was that one of the other players in his group did the same thing, but came to rest a little farther away than Darling with about the same line.

“We were about 40 feet uphill,” said Darling. “He banged his good and it came up a little short. I hit mine hard, not really trying to make it, and it went right in the middle of the hole.

“It felt like stealing.”

From there, Darling made three more birdies and no bogeys.

“When you do something like that, it gives you a little bit of a boost,” Darling said.

Darling’s confidence needed little boosting because he has been playing well lately, including winning the State of Maine Championship at Sugarloaf Golf Club last week.

“I’m putting the ball good,” said Darling, “and when you have confidence in your putting, it goes to the rest of your game.”

Darling is eager to take advantage of his position. He wants to finally win this tournament.

“I’ve waited for this for a long time,” said Darling, 45. “I’ve been close a lot of times. I’ve had my seconds, thirds, fifths, a lot of top 10s. It’s time.”

With all of the leaders playing near each other in today’s last round, Darling wants to guard against just trying to beat the people he’s playing with.

“You have to be careful not to get into match play, because then someone in the group in front or two groups in front will shoot 64 or 65 [and pass by],” said Darling.

Dantas thinks someone will have to shoot around 65 in order to win, though.

“It’ll definitely take 65 tomorrow,” said Dantas. “With everybody so close, I think the [names on the] leader board will be going up and down.”

Dantas believes anyone among the last few groups could pull out the win.

“Two shots back on this golf course can be made up with one swing,” he said. “They could call it the Maine Shootout.”