Ryan Stinnett wins Fox Puss Invitational at Boonsboro Country Club

Ryan Stinnett crushed his first shot in Sunday’s final round of the Fox Puss Invitational at Boonsboro Country Club, but it sailed right, near a tree about 160 yards away from the pin.

Then came the shot that made it clear to the gallery lining the course on a perfect, sun-splashed afternoon that it was going to be Stinnett’s day.

The former Amherst and Virginia Tech standout hit a deft punch shot that barely clipped a branch and skidded onto the green about 30 feet from the pin.

One putt later, Stinnett holed out for an improbable eagle, pulling him into a tie with second-round leader Steve Liebler.

From there, Stinnett put together a short-game exhibition. He stuck wedges and sunk tricky putts. He survived a leaky run through Boonsboro’s hollow in which he recorded his first two bogeys of the round, eventually holding off Liebler for a two-stroke victory and his first Fox Puss championship.

Stinnett won a Big East individual championship while at Virginia Tech, and he held Sunday’s win in the same regard.

“It’s just fun, because these members are so great out here,” said Stinnett, whose final-round 70 gave him a three-day total of 213. “They just treat you so great. I had so many people tell me last night they were pulling for me. And it was my mom’s birthday.”

Stinnett and his mother shared a hug near the scorer’s tent as well-wishers stopped to offer congratulations.

Stinnett was one of two first-time Fox Puss champions Sunday. Forest’s Chuck Brewer, the 2006 Central Virginia Invitational Golf Tournament champion, trailed Bob Yow by eight strokes heading into the final round of the seniors division.

Yow blew up, posting an 80. Brewer took advantage, attacking the suddenly calm golf course and finishing with a 71. After two days of vicious winds, the course was nearly defenseless Sunday, and the scores reflected the conditions.

Charles Green III, who had won the previous two seniors titles, posted a 68 to finish one stroke behind Brewer. He wasn’t even in the championship flight but nearly stole a third straight title.

Brewer, 55, was playing in his first event as a senior.

“Any tournament you play where you beat everybody you’re supposed to beat, it’s just a blessing,” Brewer said. “It’s just awesome.”

In the regulars division, Brock Kelley used a final-round 71 to finish third at 217. Roger Newsom shot an even-par 72 and finished fourth at 218. Five-time Fox Puss champ Keith Decker posted the best round of the tournament, carding a 67 to finish at 219, just six strokes back of Stinnett.

Stinnett took the lead for the first time with a birdie on the par-4 6th hole and never trailed again. Liebler battled a shaky putter all day, the frustration visible in his face as he left putts short or watched putts leak inches to the left or right of cups.

“That’s been kind of the story here at Boonsboro,” Liebler said. “I have one or two really good putting rounds, but today was not the day.

“I couldn’t get the line or the speed. When I had the line, it came up short. When I had the speed, I got it off line. I kept trying to adjust, but I just couldn’t find it.”

He bogeyed Nos. 8 and 9 and trailed by three strokes at the turn after leading by one to start the day.

Stinnett bogeyed Nos. 14 and 15 to open the door for a Liebler comeback, but the Irmo, S.C., resident couldn’t take advantage. He parred both holes and missed a makeable birdie putt on the 14th.

Stinnett led by two strokes after 16 holes, and he stepped to the 17th tee box with a 5 iron and 4 iron in his hand. He chose the 5 iron for the 220-yard hole and stuck his tee shot within seven feet of the cup.

“That was a gut check,” Stinnett said.

Liebler bogeyed the hole, and Stinnett parred, giving the latter a three-stroke lead heading to No. 18.

Stinnett will play in next weekend’s VSGA four-ball championship, where he and Decker will try to win a third consecutive title.

Sunday, however, was a day to savor a title he’s chased for years.

“I guess it was just kind of my day,” Stinnett said. “It was fortunate, because I’ve been wanting to win this one for a while now.”