MANCHESTER — After a bogey on the third hole, Ted Brown chucked his ball into the woods. After his round was complete, and Brown was the Maine Open champion, he spoke of the moment as if it was something everybody does.
“I don’t ever play a ball I make a bogey with. That’s just the way I play,” Brown said. “It’s on to the next one. There’s no need for it.”
In Tuesday’s final round, Brown ended up tossing just two bogey balls, but those were the exception. A strong front nine at the Augusta Country Club staked Brown to the lead, and steady play on the back nine cemented that lead, and Brown won by going 7-under par over the two-day tournament.
Jon McLean and Nicholas Pandelena each finished one stroke behind at 6-under.
A Canadian who has lived in Virginia since graduating from Virginia Commanwealth University in 2003, Brown began the day tied for the lead with Jason Thresher and Josh Eure at 4-under. Both Eure and Thresher struggled on Tuesday, particularly on the back nine. Eure was even on the day and finished tied for seventh, while Thresher was 3-over and finished tied for 22nd.
Brown’s back nine struggles were limited to a bogey on 13 and par putts after long birdie tries didn’t fall on Nos. 10, 11 and 12.
“I just didn’t make any putts. A couple of the wedges weren’t as close, and I just didn’t make any putts. That’s really the only difference,” Brown said.
Brown said he was glad to birdie 16 because it pulled him back even on the back nine. At the time, Brown had no idea there were players in the clubhouse at 6-under and the putt gave him back the lead.
“It was nice to birdie 16. You know, with that back pin, both guys in my group ended up bogeying it. It’s one of those holes, you’ve got to hit a good shot,” Brown said. “That was good, to get back even on my back nine, but I had no idea where I stood until I got to the scorer’s table. I never asked or anything. I really didn’t know… I’m not going to change my game. I might if I knew, but there’s no point. Out here, I’m trying to birdie every hole.”
Brown started his day strong, with birdies on holes 1, 2 and 4 wrapped around the bogey on 3. Brown picked up another birdie on 6. After his tee shot on the 358-yard hole went approximately 300 yards to the middle of the fairway, Brown chipped to within a few feet of the pin, setting up an easy birdie putt.
This was the second Maine Open for Brown. He also played in 2013, tying for fifth place while also playing in the day’s final group. After playing on the Web.com Tour last year (“I played my way off that nicely,” Brown said with a laugh) Brown hasn’t played much competitive golf this year. The Maine Open was just his second tournament of the year — the first came last week, when he tied for 10th place at the Greater Bangor Open.
Brown’s next tournament — which comes less than 24 hours after winning the Maine Open — is the New Hampshire Open beginning Wednesday. It’s a whirlwind golf tour of the Northeast, and Brown was happy to leave Augusta a winner.
“I haven’t really played much this year,” Brown said. “I came up with a couple buddies to have some fun. We’ll go play New Hampshire then head back (home).”
Jack Wyman was the top amateur in the tournament, finishing tied for seventh place at 4-under. Shawn Warren was the top Maine pro finisher, tied for 15th at 2-under.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
<URL destination=””>tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
</URL>Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM
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