Chris Thayer's putter had some late magic on Sunday
(CGA Photo)

The golfer from Walnut Creek Golf Preserve won the championship in 2014 at River Valley Ranch Golf Club in Carbondale. And on Sunday, the next time the Mid-Am was held in the high country, the Golden resident struck, well, gold again.

In what became a two-man battle for the title, Thayer birdied the 18th hole at Keystone Ranch Golf Course to win the championship by one stroke over second-round leader Shawn Sutton of Elmwood Golf Course in Pueblo.

Thayer, 37, shot subpar rounds three consecutive days -- including a 2-under-par 70 on Sunday -- to become the sixth person to win the CGA Mid-Am at least twice. Also in that club are Rick DeWitt (seven wins), Keith Humerickhouse (four), Jon Lindstrom (three), Steve Irwin (two) and Rick Garber (two).

Thayer, who was runner-up to Lindstrom the last two years, finished at 5-under-par 211 for 54 holes. Sutton, a three-time Pueblo city golf champion, closed with a 73 for check in at 212.

After a final round that included two lightning delays totaling about two hours, Thayer and Sutton were tied going into the final hole after Sutton birdied Nos. 16 and 17 and Thayer bogeyed the 17th. But Thayer's birdie on the par-5 18th, where he two-putted from 50 feet after hitting a hybrid in from 227 yards, settled the matter without a playoff. Sutton burned the cup from 20 feet on his birdie attempt and settled for a par.

Lakewood Country Club's Lindstrom, the two-time defending champion, tied for third place at 218 with Ryan Axlund of Valley Country Club, who recently qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur, and Scott Crawford of Murphy Creek Golf Course. Axlund closed with a 73, Crawford a 74 and Lindstrom a 76.

Pete Mangold of Columbine Country Club, another qualifier for the 2017 U.S. Mid-Am, and Jeff Chapman of Inverness Golf Club shared sixth place at 219.

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