By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

CALIFORNIA, Ky. - First, Lance Lucas thought he had won. Then, he was sure he had lost.

Finally, on the sixth hole of his playoff with good friend and frequent playing partner Sy Mandle on Friday, Lucas got it straightened out. Mandle mis-hit his tee shot on the par-3, 148-yard No. 6 hole at Flagg Springs Golf Course, leading to a bogey that opened the door for Lucas to make par with a 3-foot putt and capture his second Northern Kentucky Men's Amateur tournament championship.

"To come back and win again is very satisfying," said Lucas, who won in 1999. "Once he didn't hit his (tee) shot onto the green, my mentality changed. I just tried to hit it into the middle of the green."

"I just hit it fat," said Mandle, whose 3-footer on No. 2 rimmed out and helped Lucas stay in the match. "I had a terrible lie. I hit a real good second shot, but once again, I didn't get my putt in. (No. 2 and No. 4) were where I had my real good chances."

Scott High School graduate Jake Halligan, who delayed a college orientation trip to St. Leo University in Florida after rain Thursday forced suspension of the 36-hole championship finals, finished third with a 73-73-146. Four-time champion Charlie Nieman and defending champion Rob Clarke both finished at 149, and Nieman earned the fourth-place prize after a scorecard playoff. Jeff Lehkamp shot a 37-39-76 to win the second-flight championship.

Rain pushed back the tournament's finish to Friday.

Lucas, whose 68 in Monday's 18-hole qualifying round was the second best, and Mandle each carded a 1-over 143 in the 36-hole championship round. Lucas birdied two of the last four holes in regulation to catch Mandle and force the playoff.

"I had to be patient and hit good shots," Lucas said. "After I birdied the (17th) hole, I thought I was actually one stroke ahead, and I was playing for par. As I was walking up to the (18th) hole, I thought I'd won. I didn't know we were tied until I saw the scores.

Lucas, who hit bunkers on two of the six playoff holes, was prepared to lose as Mandle leaned over to putt on the second hole.

"I was ready to shake his hand," Lucas said. "Ninety-nine percent of the time, he'll make those. I felt bad that he missed it. I would have been disappointed if I lost, but I would have been happy for him."

Lucas and Mandle both live in Union and play out of Triple Crown. Lucas said the two play together 30 weekends a year.

"He normally beats me," Mandle said. "Playing him as close as I did is good for me."

Northern Kentucky Men's Amateur

Flagg Springs Golf Course -- California, Ky.

Finals -- Championship Flight (Two 18-hole rounds)

Lance Lucas	72-71 143*
Sy Mandle	73-70 143
Jake Halligan	73-73 146
Charlie Nieman	75-74 149
Rob Clarke	73-76 149
Larry Travis	75-76 151
John Ritchey	76-76 152
Jared Hiedel	79-75 154

Second Flight (18 holes)

Jeff Lehkamp	37-39 76
Greg Poore	38-40 78
Joey Whitford	40-38 78
David Shirden	38-42 80
Kirk Bachmann	43-41 84
Tom Cottingham	WD
John Roseberry	WD
Kyle Uthe	WD