AUBURN – When Todd Westfall of Clendenin, W.Va., analyzed his round after winning the 89th Charlie’s Maine Open Golf Championship on Thursday, he gave his putter all the credit.
“I think what I discovered this week is that I’m a good pressure putter, and that’s encouraging,” said the 36-year-old pro.
Westfall posted a 2-under-par 70 at Fox Ridge Golf Club to finish with a three-day total of 4-under 212.
Mark Baldwin of Laconia, N.H., Rich Parker of Lebanon, N.H., and Jerry Diphilippo of Gorham tied for second at 213. Baldwin shot 71, Parker 69, and Diphilippo 70.
Shawn Warren of Windham, the second-round leader, shot 73 for a 214 total and fifth place.
Toby Spector of Waterville earned low amateur honors when he tied for sixth at 216 with host pro Bob Darling Jr. of Lewiston and Jeff Martin of Warwick, R.I. Spector and Darling, the low Maine pro and low senior pro, each shot 73, Martin 71.
Defending champion Ricky Jones (72) of Thomaston led a group at 1-over 217.
Westfall called putting the key to winning every tournament.
“Everybody hits it good,” he said. “It’s all putting.”
Westfall’s putting was less than sharp the first four holes, but after that his aim improved.
“Every time I needed a par or birdie, it went in,” said Westfall.
Baldwin, who had been co-leader with Westfall after the first round, was impressed with the way Westfall pulled away on the second nine.
“Todd just went out and got it, which is what I was hoping to do,” said Baldwin, who said his putting wasn’t nearly as sharp.
“Add in the factor of tension, you start hitting the edge of holes and they don’t go in,” said Baldwin.
Warren, who began the day with a one-stroke lead over Baldwin and Westfall, started quickly with par on the first and birdie on the second that pushed his lead to three strokes. But he was never able to widen the gap, and Westfall, who lost to Warren in a playoff for the 2004 Maine Open title, gradually reeled him in.
After three-putting for bogey on No. 4 (the usual No. 13 as the nines were reversed this year), Westfall had a little talk with himself.
“I was like, ‘Todd, start playing like you can,”‘ said Westfall. “I went birdie, birdie and got out of my own way.”
Westfall finally caught Warren, who became a good friend of Westfall after the 2004 Open (the fact they both played golf for Marshall University helped), with a birdie on 13, pulled ahead when Warren bogeyed 14, and went three strokes up when he birdied 15 and Warren bogeyed it.
Westfall’s birdie came when his approach shot rolled up the hill behind the green. He used his hybrid club to chip it in.
“That’s a great shot to have,” Westfall said. “I’ve been working on it a lot. After making that, I knew I was going to win this thing.”
It wasn’t guaranteed, although Westfall may have wished it could be.
“I had a little bit of self-doubt all week,” said Westfall. “I hadn’t won for almost 10 months.”
Warren birdied 16 to get back within two, but he hit his tee shot on 17 into the lateral hazard on the right and had to take a drop, costing him a stroke.
He still managed to bogey, but Westfall’s approach shot stopped 6 inches from the cup, setting up a tap-in birdie.
“Seventeen was the icer,” said Baldwin.
With a two-stroke lead on Diphilippo and Parker, who had already finished, and three ahead of Baldwin and four up on Warren, Westfall played the par-5 18th conservatively. His three-putt bogey was good enough to win.
“I tried to finish with a blaze of glory,” said a smiling Westfall, who collected $6,500 for his effort.
“I got it done. That’s all that matters,” he added.
TOP FINISHERS
Todd Westfall 69-73-70-212
Jerry Diphilippo 74-69-70-213
Mark Baldwin 69-73-71-213
Rich Parker 78-66-69-213
Shawn Warren 71-70-73-214
Bob Darling Jr. -72-71-73-216
Jeff Martin 73-72-71-216
Toby Spector – 75-68-73-216
Adam Corson 74-72-71-217
Brian Medley 73-70-74-217
Bryan Omelia 78-69-70-217
Ricky Jones 74-71-72-217
Golf
MAINE OPEN
At Fox Ridge GC, Auburn
Todd Westfall 69-73-70-212
Jerry Diphilippo 74-69-70-213
Mark Baldwin 69-73-71-213
Rich Parker 78-66-69-213
Shawn Warren – 71-70-73-214
Bob Darling Jr. – 72-71-73-216
Jeff Martin – 73-72-71-216
Toby Spector – 75-68-73-216
Adam Corson – 74-72-71-217
Brian Medley – 73-70-74-217
Bryan Omelia – 78-69-70-217
Ricky Jones – 74-71-72-217
Jeff Seavey – 77-70-71-218
Martin Catalioto – 72-72-75-219
Bobby Pandolfi – 75-71-75-221
Ross McGee – 72-77-73-222
Steve Alminas – 74-72-76-222
James Becker – 76-74-73-223
John Hickson – 76-74-73-223
Mo Guttman – 73-78-72-223
Rob Corcoran – 72-76-75-223
Jesse Larson – 76-75-73-224
John Arnette – 75-72-77-224
Matt Donovan – 75-73-76-224
Don Robertson – 76-75-74-225
Johnny Schiano – 75-76-74-225
Tom DeCaprio – 77-74-74-225
Tom Wecal – 76-73-76-225
Mark Alizzeo – 76-71-79-226
David Cummings – 76-75-76-227
a-Keegan Fennessy – 76-77-74-227
Ron Bibeau – 76-71-80-227
Mark Plummer – 76-77-75-228
Gary Manoogian – 79-73-77-229
Jason Gall – 79-76-74-229
Scott Barnicle – 77-76-76-229
Curtis Jordan – 76-76-78-230
Timothy Martin – 81-71-78-230
Tobey Buteau – 78-76-76-230
a-Michael Chouinard – 79-73-79-231
Michael Nowak – 76-79-78-233
Robert Roylance – 84-75-75-234
a-Scott Merrill – 76-76-82-234
Jace Pearson – 80-79-76-235
Jason Kransen Harris – 81-75-83-239
Brandon Wohl – 81-76-83-240
Bryan Otis – 80-79-81-240
Thomas Bean – 78-81-82-241
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