CAPE ELIZABETH — Eli Spaulding was 14 when he played in his first Maine Amateur Championship at Biddeford-Saco Country Club in 2020. He was plus-18 over the first two rounds and missed the cut.

In 2021 at Kebo Valley Club in Bar Harbor, Spaulding was 14 over after the first two rounds and missed the cut again. In 2022 at Webhannet Golf Club in Kennebunk, he finished tied for sixth place. Last year, at Samoset Golf Course in Rockport, Spaulding tied for fourth.

All that was the buildup to his 20-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the 18th hole Thursday afternoon at the Purpoodock Club. Spaulding, 18, of Freeport, took a few deliberate practice swings, then sank the long birdie putt, rattling the flag as he clinched his first Maine Amateur title.

“The first two Maine Ams, you kind of go out there and see what happens, soak it up. I kind of know how to compete, and I have the experience to know I can do this, I can make this happen,” Spaulding said. “Actually, I did not hit a single driver this week, which might sound pretty crazy. I just trusted my game. The course is pretty short, and going into the week, I was feeling pretty good.”

The three-time Class B state champion at Freeport High, Spaulding birdied three of the last four holes to finish the tournament at 5-under 208, two strokes ahead of John Hayes IV, who entered Thursday’s final round with a two-shot lead and was playing on his home course. Spaulding closed with an even-par 71, while Hayes shot a 75.

Ron Kelton, also a Purpoodock member, was distant third at 5 over.

The gallery of spectators grew as the match progressed, with a few hundred gathered around the 18th green. Spaulding knew a majority of them were supporting Hayes.

“If anything, it gave me a little more energy, knowing I was the underdog,” said Spaulding, who plans to play collegiately at Loyola University in Maryland. “Even when I had the lead on the last couple holes, knowing I was the underdog and the whole crowd wasn’t really rooting for me, it felt good to make those couple birdies coming in and end up being the overall champion.”

Spaulding set up his trophy-clinching putt on 18 with a great approach from about 130 yards. The shot bounced near the pin, then nearly rolled off the green into a bunker.

Spaulding’s best shot came out of a bunker in front of the 17th green. Spaulding blasted out to within inches of the hole and tapped in for birdie. Hayes birdied the hole, too, so Spaulding maintained a one-stroke margin.

“It was actually a pretty good lie. Kind of up against the lip, but the trap was pretty flat and I didn’t have to worry about the lip. I had already hit, like three bunker shots that were the exact same shot,” Spaulding said. “I kind of just trusted the shot and made a great up and down, and that really helped bring momentum into the last hole.”

At the start of the round, Hayes quickly extended his lead to three with a birdie on the first hole. From there, the round became a grind for Hayes, particularly on the front nine, where he carded five of his seven bogeys.

Other than a bogey on No. 3, Spaulding played steady golf on the front nine, and that was enough for him to take a one-stroke lead at the turn.

“Just golf. I just didn’t play well, which is a bummer. Bad timing, with the final round,” said Hayes, who earned his sixth top-six finish since winning the Maine Amateur in 2015. “Eli played, not his best golf, but he got it done.”

Spaulding’s birdie on the 185-yard 15th hole was his first of the round and gave him a two-shot lead with three holes to play.

“There are a lot of scoring opportunities from 1 to 14, so it was definitely getting a little frustrating not making any birdies. I was getting a little worried I was going to go birdie-free,” Spaulding said, “but I’ve been hitting the ball well all week. I was just telling myself, don’t get too aggressive. Keep hitting your shots, and hopefully they’ll fall on the last couple.”

Hayes responded with a birdie on the 500-yard, par-5 16th hole. He eagled the hole in Wednesday’s second round, and nearly did it again, coming up just short on a long eagle putt.

Spaulding said he didn’t go into the tournament with high expectations, but knew he had a chance to win. And now, he’ll get to compete for a much bigger prize. For the first time, the Maine Amateur winner receives an entry into the U.S. Amateur, which will be Aug. 12-18 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.

“The best amateurs in the world are at the U.S. Am, and it’s great to have that opportunity to go and compete there. It’s going to be a really good experience,” Spaulding said.