NORTH YARMOUTH

Caleb Manuel entered Thursday’s second round of the boys 13-14 Maine Junior Amateur Championship at Toddy Brook Golf Course nursing a three-shot lead.

The 13-year-old Mt. Ararat Middle School eighth-grader admitted to feeling some nerves, so a solid start was something needed to get Manuel pointed in the right direction.

A pair of tap-in pars on the first two holes gave him an early seven-shot advantage, and his solid play continued in coasting to an 11- shot victory.

“I knew that I had shots to waste, and that start allowed me to play smart,” said the Topsham native, who finished eighth last season while playing up as a 12- year-old. “I had birdie putts, and I just didn’t want to blow them by, especially after watching my opponents do that.”

Manuel led Augusta’s Mitchell Tarrio by three shots as the round began after shooting a 2-over par 73 on Wednesday. But, a pair of pars on the 10th and 11th holes (the players played the back nine first in both rounds) by Manuel was matched by a bogey-triple bogey start by Tarrio, allowing Manuel’s lead to balloon.

After a bogey on 12 and 14 reduced his advantage to six shots, a big swing came at the uphill par-4 15th. Tarrio put his drive into thick brush to the right of the fairway and took five more shots for a double-bogey six. Meanwhile, Manuel’s drive found the middle of the fairway, and his approach settled nicely six feet away. Manuel’s putt was true for his only birdie of the round for a nine-shot advantage.

“He just didn’t make too many mistakes,” said Tarrio. “I let some shots slip away in the first two holes, and Caleb played well. It was a great to play with him today.”

Also playing in the final group was Cape Elizabeth’s Max Altznauer, who entered the final round 11 shots back after an opening 84. Altznauer pared the first five holes to gain two shots on Manuel, but a quadruplebogey eight on the pivotal 15th ended his hopes.

Entering the final nine holes with a 10-shot advantage, Manuel worked hard tee to green, finding the putting surface in regulation on five consecutive holes, each resulting in a par. Manuel bogeyed two of the final four holes, including his only three-putt of the round on the eighth green, but his final round of 3-over 74 was once again the best round of the 13-14 division.

“This is what I have been working for,” said Manuel. “I was able to be consistent off the tee, and I putted pretty well too.”

Jacob Laplume of Old Orchard Beach was fourth with a 170 (86-84), while Mt. Desert Island’s Ryder Henry finished fifth at 171 (86-85).

15-17 Boys

Austin Legge of Cape Elizabeth began the day four shots behind first-round leader Nick Mazurek, but proved that sometimes slow and steady is indeed what it takes to win a championship.

His two rounds of 75 each were good enough to win the 79th Maine Junior Championship. He beat Bangor’s Drew Powell by one shot to claim his first state championship.

Legge, 14, was playing up in the championship division this year and proved why he was competing with the older group. His win earned him an automatic berth onto the Maine team at the New England Junior Amateur Championship next week, which will be contested at his home club of Purpoodock Golf Club in Cape Elizabeth.

In third were John Witt of Kennebunkport and Lucas Roop of Gorham, whose final round one-under 70 was the low round of the championship.

From the local area, Brunswick’s Zach Grant finished at 168 (81-87), while Joshua Clark shot 179 (92- 87). Lisbon’s Adam White recovered nicely from an opening round 100, shooting 83 on Thursday to finish at 183, while Freeport’s Ethan Sclar had a 197 (95-102).

12s and girls

Ryan Stinson followed up his opening round 38 with a second round 36 for a sevenstroke win over Peter Malia.

Stinson, who resides in Scarborough, held a oneshot lead entering Thursday’s nine-hole battle. But, Malia, also from Scarborough, shot a 42 on the front nine.

Teddy Forsley was third at 87, followed by Bennett Berg (90) and Cooper Bay (91).

In the girls 15-17 division, a close battle occurred by Cape Elizabeth’s Lauren Schonewolf and Lewiston’s Stephanie Rodrigue. Schonewolf held a one-shot lead heading into secondround action, and she was able to maintain it as she matched Rodriguez’s 80 in the closing session.

Erin Holmes of Cumberland had the low round amongst the four competitors, shooting a secondround 75 to finished third at 162, with Janelle Bryant of Gray finishing at 182.

Two golfers teed it up in the 13-14 girls, with Jordan Laplume of Old Orchard Beach taking the title over North Yarmouth’s Rachel Smith, 160-166.