MANCHESTER – Vermont defended its Tri-State Golf Championship over the weekend with a narrow victory over Maine and New Hampshire at Augusta Country Club.

Vermont finished with 25 points, and Maine and New Hampshire posted 23.5 each.

The format called for two alternate-shot format matches on Saturday and two individual matches each on Sunday. For the team score, each match counted as one point. For the players, the alternate-shot matches counted a half-point each and the Sunday matches were a full point apiece. Each player could score up to three points.

Joe Baker of South Paris led Maine with three points, and Scott DeWitt of Biddeford, Tom Bean of Augusta and Frank Getchell of Waterville posted 2.5 apiece. Among other players on the 16-man team, Mark Plummer of Manchester scored two points and Ricky Jones of Thomaston had one.

New Hampshire led after the first day with 9.5 points, Vermont was right behind with 8.5, and Maine had six, but the host contingent rallied on the second day, briefly taking the lead, before Vermont surged to its second straight title.