MALONE — Winning the Masters North once is difficult enough.
Winning it in back-to-back years is something extra special.
Graham Niles carded a 70-77-147 total on Friday and Saturday to defend his championship in the 42nd-annual event held at the Malone Golf Club’s East Course.
“I didn’t feel as comfortable today as I did yesterday,” Niles said. “But I got the job done and had to grind it out and survive.
“I didn’t feel the nerves until I got to 13 and 14. I just had to slow myself down. There was less stress on me this year because I knew I had done this before.”
Niles was able to take a four-stroke lead going into Saturday’s second round after shooting a sensational two-under par 70 from the tournament tees the day before.
What was even more impressive for him was shooting a four-under par 32 on the back nine.
“I had a 38 on the front nine yesterday and didn’t feel like I did anything special,” Niles said. “But then I had birdies on 11, 12, 13 and 16.”
Finishing second was Josh Kirby two strokes back at 76-73-149. Tied for third three strokes back were past Masters North champion Bob Hughes with a 77-73-150 and Anthony Marion (75-75-150).
Matt King was fifth with a 74-78-52, while past Masters North champion Ed Davis (76-77-153) and Patrick O’Connor (74-79-153) finished tied for sixth place.
Niles was aware of the situation in the late going.
“I was checking the live scoring near the end,” he said. “I was one stroke ahead, but the guy (Kirby) ahead of me had a double bogey on 17. I then had a bogey on 17 and led by two strokes going to 18.
“I wanted to make sure I didn’t hit my second shot over the green on 18. I put it 15 feet away from the cup and two-putted for a par.”
“Graham did what he had to do to win,” tournament director Willie King said. “He was dynamite in the first round and is a worthy champion.
“Kirby made a nice run and Hughes had a great second round.
“Anthony Marion is a young player who has a great swing, and Matt King made an early run today.
“We had beautiful weather for the two days and Malone is a great course.”
Niles won a $700 gift certificate to Plattsburgh Golf Discount for his first-place performance. The top 14 golfers won gift certificates.
WEEDEN WINS LEGENDS
Plattsburgh’s Robin Weeden carded a two-day 78-78-156 total from the white tees to finish first.
Weeden was one stroke ahead of Wayne Wright (78-79-157), two over Brad Griffin (77-81-158) and three in front of Graham Cooke (79-80-169) and Pierre Geoffrion (81-78-159).
“Robin Weeden was a one-stroke winner as a rookie in the Legends,” King said. “A rookie in the Legends is 60-years-old.”
Weeden’s first-place finish awarded him a $500 gift certificate to Plattsburgh Golf Discount.
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42nd Annual Masters North
Malone Golf Club East Course
Masters North Division
Graham Niles 70 77 147
Josh Kirby 76 73 149
Bob Hughes 77 73 150
Anthony Marion 75 75 150
Matt King 74 78 152
Ed Davis 76 77 153
Patrick O’Connor 74 79 153
Ben Honahan 78 76 154
Chuck Voorhees II 76 78 154
Raegan Arnold 76 78 154
Myles McDonald 75 80 155
Michael Patenaude 79 78 157
Nick Bouyea 79 80 158
Matt Laramee 78 80 158
Geoff Marsden 83 76 159
George Labarr 81 78 159
Wade Studley 80 79 159
Bailey Conklin 81 80 161
Zack Oakes 79 82 161
Justin Besaw 84 78 162
Matt Davis 80 83 163
Jim Boucher 80 84 164
Steve Moffat 79 86 165
Joey Tufo 85 81 166
Tristin Fitzgerald 84 82 166
Justin Brown 83 84 167
Jeff Fallon 84 84 168
Devin Young 77 91 168
Alec Odnoha 83 87 170
Carson Cunningham 87 86 173
Steve Labombard 86 87 173
Brenden Carnwright 83 90 173
Cary Garcia 84 90 174
Ray Beebe 89 86 175
Will Flynn 89 87 176
Pete Laramee 96 81 177
Nick Fitzsimmons 89 89 178
Rob Fredette 86 92 178
Brian Mockus 94 86 180
Ben Poupore 92 88 180
Travis Meachum 93 94 187
Joey Thompson 88 NS NS
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Legends Division
Robin Weeden 78 78 156
Wayne Wright 78 79 157
Brad Griffin 77 81 158
Graham Cooke 79 80 159
Pierre Geoffrion 81 78 159
Serge Dagenais 81 79 160
Jean Crispo 84 79 163
Brad Van Brunt 86 78 164
Andy Wylie 85 80 165
Steve Gagnon 85 81 166
David Kokes 77 89 166
Paul Schofield 94 83 177
John Flynn 94 91 185
Pierre Archambault 100 87 187