OAKLAND — In July, he was the runner-up. In August, he became champion.

Sam Grindle, who plays out of Island Country Club, exacted revenge on Jack Wyman, defeating him 3 and 2 and claim the 2017 Maine Match Play Invitational golf championship at Waterville Country Club on Thursday.

Grindle, a 22-year-old from Deer Isle, settled for a second-place finish at last month’s Maine Amateur Championship at Brunswick Golf Club. He stayed close to the lead in the final nine holes, but ultimately fell to Wyman.

Wyman’s and Grindle’s one-two finish at the Maine Am garnered them the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds, respectively for this week’s Match Play bracket. And, for the first time in the event’s history, those top two seeds held up, setting up a showdown in Thursday’s finals.

Grindle got off to a scorching start, notching birdies on three of the first five holes to be 3-under. Wyman made two birdies of his own, however, to keep Grindle’s lead at 1 up.

After the duo each lost a hole with a bogey on the seventh at eight holes, Grindle went to the back nine clinging to his 1 up lead. The match remained tight as both players parred Nos. 10-14.

Wyman dropped to 2 down with a bogey on 15. Grindle made a birdie on the long, downhill par 3 16th hole to end the match, 3 and 2.

It is the first Maine major title for Grindle.

Sam Grindle accepts the Maine Match Play Invitational winner’s trophy from MSGA rules official Moe Gallant. Copy the Story Link