Strong putting skills carry Westfall to win Baldwin, Parker, Diphilippo tie for 2nd place

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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