FALMOUTH — Ryan Gay won his second straight Maine Amateur title today by a stroke in a nailbiter of a finish at Portland Country Club.

Gay, 20, of Pittston went to the final hole tied at 1-under with longtime friend J.J. Harris of Bath. Harris hit his second shot into a bunker to the right of the green and wound up with a bogey, enabling Gay to win the championship with a par.

Harris shot the best round of the day, a 68. Gay closed with a 1-over 71 for a three-day total of 1-under 209.

Gay, who has now won three Maine Amateur championships – 2008, 2010, and now 2011 – said he is shooting for five titles before he hopes to turn pro. He will be a junior at the University of New Mexico next year.

“This one’s awesome,” said Gay. “J.J. made a lot of great putts and put the pressure on me all day.”

Jason Gall of Cumberland shot a 71 and finished third at 2 over.

 

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