BOOTHBAY – Joe Alvarez of Bangor had a new experience this year in Wednesday’s Round of 32 at the 86th Maine Amateur Golf Championship at Boothbay Country Club.

He won a match.

“I play in the twilight league [at Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono] and I can’t win a match,” said Alvarez with a smile. “I have the lowest handicap, but I have to give the most strokes.

“I haven’t won a match all year.”

That changed Wednesday when the 16th-seeded Alvarez defeated No. 17 William Robinson of The Woodlands Club in Falmouth 5 and 4.

“It was a totally different feeling,” said Alvarez of not having to give his opponent any strokes. “I could just go out and play.”

J.J. Frost of Brewer, seeded 13th, had to go to an extra hole to post his 1 up victory over No. 20 Scott Barnicle of Brunswick Golf Club.

“It was just survive and advance, pretty much,” said Frost.

Among the other matches, top seed Shawn Warren of Windham also rolled to a 5 and 4 win over No. 32 Nick Pelotte of Waterville; No. 6 Ricky Jones of Thomaston, the two-time defending champion, cruised to a 4 and 3 win over No. 27 Michael Napolitano Jr. of Portland; No. 12 Corey Poulin of Madison defeated No. 21 Chris Delamater of Norway 4 and 2; and No. 24 Jeff Wass of Rockland edged No. 9 Michael Hersey of Presque Isle 1 up. Wass’ victory was one of only three matches that finished in upsets.

Including his twilight league play, Alvarez said he’s only getting out about three times a week.

“This is my first [nonclub] tournament of the year,” said Alvarez, who became a licensed financial adviser in May.

He hasn’t felt nervous at all, though.

“I’ve played in so many [tournaments], I don’t get nervous,” said Alvarez. “Maybe tomorrow at first, but once you hit the first tee shot … ”

Alvarez will have his hands full as he takes on Warren at 7:30 a.m. today in the Round of 16.

“It should be a good match tomorrow,” said Alvarez.

He made the turn 1 up against Robinson, then caught fire.

“I won 10, 11, 12, and 13, then halved 14 to win [the match],” he said.

Alvarez felt more comfortable with his play Wednesday.

“I hit a lot of greens,” he said. “That was more my type of game today.”

Frost jumped out to a big early lead against Barnicle, 4 up after six holes, but Barnicle kept plugging away and eventually evened the match.

“He started hitting some putts and snuck back into it,” said Frost, whose 3-foot birdie putt on 18 lipped out and sent the match to extra holes.

“I must have missed six or seven birdie putts inside 10 feet,” said Frost.

On the playoff hole, Frost hit his tee shot to the left side of the fairway, but Barnicle knocked his into the brush on the inside of the dogleg-right hole.

It took Barnicle two strokes to get out, but he hit his fourth to the center of the small green.

Frost hit a wedge from 120 yards uphill and into the wind and came up short of the green.

“I let my guard down,” said Frost, who then hit a bump-and-run which ran past the hole.

Barnicle missed his bogey putt, and Frost two-putted for the win.

Poulin went 2 up on Delamater after four holes.

“It takes the pressure off when you get an early lead,” Poulin said.

He made the turn 5 up and birdied 16 to close out the match.

This morning’s winners advance to the quarterfinals this afternoon. The semifinals will be Friday morning and the championship will be decided Friday afternoon.