Justin Harris became the champion of champions Sunday at the Leatherstocking Golf Course.
Unadilla resident Harris, 23, shot a 2-under-par 70 to win the Otsego County Amateur Golf Tournament's Atchinson Cup by two strokes over Dan Schallert of Cooperstown.
Harris finished with a two-day total of 142 for the victory, which comes a week after he won the club championship at the Oneonta Country Club. Harris earned that title Aug. 17, when Schallert placed first in the club championship at Leatherstocking.
"I've pretty much just been playing well the last couple weeks," said Harris, who credited swing coach Ron Philo for helping him bounce back from an 11th-place finish (159) last year. "I've been working on a few things _ off the tee and my putting _ and they just came together."
Harris played the last four holes in 2-under, sinking birdie putts on the 15th and 18th after reaching each of the par-5 greens in two shots.
"He killed the drive on 18," said Leatherstocking pro Dan Spooner, who estimated Harris needed somewhere between an 8- and 9-iron to reach the green in two on the 505-yard hole. "I've been watching him play for the last four years and I'm really impressed with his swing."
The difference may have been his birdie on 15, though.
"After I birdied the 15th hole, I felt pretty confident," said Harris, a spring Hartwick College graduate who played golf for the Hawks. "I knew I had a good chance to win unless I really screwed up."
Schallert, who missed the cut in 2006 and didn't play last year, parred the last four holes en route to his second straight 72 in the two-day tournament.
Both players opened the 31st annual event with even-par 72s at OCC to share the first-round lead Saturday, when eight players in the 21-man field missed the cut of 80.
Harris and Schallert emerged from a reduced field that featured five former champions who have 11 Atchinson Cups among them.
Three-time winner Bruce Miller placed third at 148; 2006 champion Ryan Brunswick placed fourth at 152; and defending champion Kurt Schulte tied five-time winner Steve Torrey at 155 for fifth. Frank Vergari, the 1999 champ, tied Rich Couch for ninth at 158.
"It's fun because everybody you're playing against is a lot more experienced than I am," said Harris, who carries a plus-1 handicap. "Every time you play, you learn some stuff."
Harris and Schallert led Brunswick by a stroke after Saturday's round. The three played together Sunday, when Brunswick shot a 79.
Miller came back from a 75 at OCC with a 73 at Leatherstocking to grab the No. 3 spot.
A 2003 graduate of Unatego, Harris said he earned an accounting degree at Hartwick. Harris, who works for a local car dealer and is a Unatego football coach, said he plans to defend his title next year.
Schulte, 50, won the 2007 title with a 146, beating his son, Matt, by one stroke. Matt Schulte, the 2004 winner, did not compete this year.
OTSEGO COUNTY AMATEUR
Weekend results from the 31st annual Otsego County Amateur Golf Tournament. The par-72 Oneonta Country Club hosted Saturday's opening round. The par-72 Leatherstocking Golf Course hosted Sunday's closing round.
Place, PlayerR1-R2 _ Tot
1, Justin Harris72-70 _ 142
2, Dan Schallert72-72 _ 144
3, Bruce Miller75-73 _ 148
4, Ryan Brunswick 73-79 _ 152
5, Kurt Schulte 76-79 _ 155
5, Steve Torrey 77-78 _ 155
7, David Burnsworth 80-77 _ 157
7, Rich Myers 77-80 _ 157
9, Frank Vergari 77-81 _ 158
9, Rich Couch 78-80 _ 158
11, Mike Schulte 80-80 _ 160
12, Kahle Harris 78-83 _ 161
13, Adrian Vanessendelst 79-88 _ 167
Missed Cut
PlayerScore
Jim Ballantine81
Paul Lesta81
Cary Brunswick82
Eric Hansen82
Matt Burke82
Dave Eliott83
Al Dubreuil84
Marty Brunswick84
ATCHINSON CUP WINNERS
2008 Justin Harris; 2007 Kurt Schulte; 2006 Ryan Brunswick; 2005 Matt Schulte; 2004 Bruce Miller; 2003 Ike Lovelass; 2002 Steve Torrey; 2001 Bruce Miller; 2000 Bruce Miller.
1999 Frank Vergari; 1998 Steve Torrey; 1997 Steve Torrey; 1996 Steve Torrey; 1995 Steve Stetson; 1994 Steve Stetson; 1993 Harry Schulte; 1992 Pete Severud; 1991 Nick Lambros; 1990 Vince Toscano.
1989 Harry Schulte; 1988 Pete Severud; 1987 Pete Severud; 1986 Pete Severud; 1985 Alan Schulte; 1984 Kevin Burnsworth; 1983 Alan Schulte; 1982 Alan Schulte; 1981 Steve Torrey; 1980 Oren Doc Knapp.
1979 Pete Severud; 1978 Pete Severud.
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