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MANCHESTER — When he was scuffling in the middle of the final round of the Charlie’s Maine Open on Wednesday afternoon, Caleb Manuel wrote the initials “MS” on his ball. To remind himself to not allow those bogies on 12 and 13 to get in his head. To remind himself this is just golf.

“And I made birdie right after,” Manuel said. “I was definitely more comfortable on the last six holes than I was on the middle six.”

The initials on his ball were for his friend Marcus Steinman, who was killed in a car accident last October. They were buddies since they were kids, Manuel said, and the loss of Steinman hit him hard.

That’s part of the reason this has been a year to reset for Manuel. The loss of his friend, as well as a grandfather and uncle, told Manuel it was time to catch his breath. Already one of the state’s most accomplished golfers at only 24, Manuel hasn’t played much competitive golf this year after focusing so much attention on the sport for years. Mentally and physically, it was time to take a step back before going after his goals in the game.

“I still plan to pursue it. I’ve had a lot of people ask me, do I still plan to do Q school and all that. I do,” Manuel said after placing second in the Maine Open with a three-round score of minus-11, two strokes behind winner Fletcher Babcock.

It was second time in three years that Manuel finished second in the tournament. That’s not bad for a guy who, other than a handful of qualifying rounds here and there, hadn’t played competitive rounds of golf since entering 13 tournaments last summer on the PGA Tour Americas, the developmental tour for players looking to qualify for the Korn Ferry Tour, which is one step below the PGA Tour.

Manuel won three consecutive Maine Amateur titles from 2021 through 2023 as he worked his way through college, first at UConn, then at Georgia. Manuel was tied for the lead after the first round Monday at Augusta Country Club and three shots behind Babcock entering Wednesday’s final round.

With four birdies in his first six holes Wednesday, Manuel tied Babcock for the lead. He said he was uncomfortable early in the round, but the birdies loosened him up and settled him down.

“I was pretty nervous early, and I started hitting some pretty good shots when I was nervous,” he said.

After another birdie on eight, a wave of bogies came, three of them between holes 9 and 13. It can happen to anyone, especially someone who hasn’t played under final-round, final-group pressure in months.

“I was happy with how I played. I felt like the golf got a little harder on the back nine. I was just putting myself in kind of tough spots, starting on 11. Twelve’s a tricky hole. Then 13, an uncommitted swing,” Manuel said. “If I could do anything, I would take 12 and 13 back, and maybe the wedges into the par-3s on the back nine. I don’t think they were careless swings or anything. I think I was just trying to be too aggressive.”

When his thoughts turned to Steinman, Manuel settled down enough to hold onto second place and the $3,000 prize that comes with it. Q school is still the goal, and the PGA Tour beyond that. On the PGA Americas circuit, Manuel learned how important chipping and putting is to carding low scores.

“That’s something I can improve on, mentally and physically. I think that’s my next move, to maybe find a putting coach or a routine I do every day,” Manuel said. “I’m a feel player, so I can go out and shoot a low score without much thought, but I want to be more consistent.”

And he needs to get back into tournament play. The Maine Open was a good start, a familiar tournament on a familiar course. Manuel plans to play in the Providence Open in Rhode Island at the end of next week. After that, he’ll see. The Maine Open stoked a competitive fire in Manuel that never really went out.

The goal of a pro golf career remains, even when a step back is necessary.