OAKLAND

Sam Grindle has had an entire month to think back on what could have been at the Maine Amateur Championship at Brunswick Golf Club in July.

The 22-year-old from Deer Isle was near the lead on the final nine holes at the Amateur, but eventually had to settle for the runner-up after losing by two strokes to eventual winner Jack Wyman of South Freeport.

Grindle had his chance at redemption on Thursday at Waterville Country Club as the two squared off in the finals of the 2017 Match Play Invitational. He took full advantage, beating Wyman by a score of 3-and-2 to claim his first Maine major title.

Due to the duo’s 1-2 finish in the Amateur, they were the one and two seeds in this year’s Match Play bracket. For the first time in the event’s history, both top seeds advanced to the final match, setting up another showdown a month removed from the Amateur.

Grindle came out firing early, with birdies on three of his first five holes. Wyman made two of his own, so despite being 3- under early in the round, Grindle only held a 1-up lead. The two each made a bogey to lose a hole on 7 and 8, and after they exchanged pars on No. 9, Grindle went to the back nine 1-up.

After playing even on holes 10-14, Wyman made bogey on 15 to fall 2-down, and when Grindle made a birdie on the long downhill par-3 16th hole, the match was over.

The 3-and-2 win for Grindle ended what’s been an amazing summer for Wyman in which he won far more than he lost, taking top amateur at the Charlie’s Maine Open along with winning the Maine Amateur title.