CUMBERLAND — Austen Truslow took a two-stroke lead into the final hole of the Maine Junior Amateur Championship on Wednesday at Val Halla Golf Course. On 18, he made a 12-foot putt for birdie, pumped his fist, and claimed the Maine Junior Amateur Championship.

“Fortunately, I made my birdie putt and it just ended there,” he said. “It was a great fight.”

Truslow shot a 2-under round of 70 to finish the tournament at 3-under par.

Malcolm Oliver, of Wawenock, finished second at even par and Joe Walp of Falmouth Country Club was six strokes back.

Truslow said on Tuesday he had trouble with the putter and he would look for more out of it on Wednesday.

“Putts were a little bit better today,” he said. “It wasn’t great, but it was better.”

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The 15-year-old at Spruce Creek High School just outside of Daytona Beach, Fla., spends his summers at Tarratine Golf Club in Islesboro. Summer in Maine is treating him well.

“It was just a big relief [to win],” Truslow said. “I haven’t won in over a year, other than Rockland two weeks ago, but it felt really good to get that win.”

Truslow shot a 73 to win the Maine Junior Tour on July 21 at Rockland. Oliver participated in that tournament as well but tied for eighth with an 83.

Oliver parred the tournament’s final hole but admitted to having some trouble with his putter.

He birdied the 17th hole but the ball gave him a scare when it rolled in and out of the cup, then back in. Oliver received a round of applause from tournament officials and other spectators for the shot. That didn’t offset a few misses.

“I played all right but I missed a few short putts,” he said.

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Walp, a Deering High School golfer and last year’s tournament winner, was tied for second with Oliver after the first round but took a dip.

“Just couldn’t get it done,” Walp said. “Couple mistakes here and there and didn’t make any putts.”

He double-bogeyed the sixth and 11th holes but made a push at the end with birdies on the final two holes.

Walp said he was more focused on his game than his strokes.

“You always want to win but you can’t worry about the score,” he said. “You kind of have to just go out and play.”

Daulton Wickenden won the boys’ 13-14 age group, finishing with a total of 148 and Reese McFarlane finished second with a 159. Ethan Shepard won the 12-and-under division with an 82, a stroke better than Eric Dugas.

Meghan Flanigan totaled 174 to win the girls’ 15-17 group. Sarah Hansen shot 185 to place second. In the girls’ 14-and-under group, Kelsie Dessent shot a 190 to win.


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