Hampden native John Hickson sank a birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat Cape Elizabeth’s Reese McFarlane and capture his fourth State of Maine Championship at the Sugarloaf Golf Club in Carrabassett Valley on Wednesday.
Hickson, the golf pro at Sebasco Harbor Resort Golf Club in Sebasco Estates, trailed McFarlane by three shots after Tuesday’s opening round.
But he survived a three-over-par 39 on the back nine, including a double-bogey on the par-four 10th hole, to shoot a 73 and force a playoff. McFarlane fired a four-over-par 76 on Wednesday after an opening-round 67.
McFarlane, who plays for the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, had three bogeys on the front nine and one on the par-five 16th hole.
Hickson notched a birdie three on the par-four 17th hole to draw even with McFarlane.
McFarlane’s approach shot on the playoff hole landed near the hole but then rolled off the green which enabled Hickson to win it with his birdie putt.
Hickson had previously won the tournament in 2007, 2012 and 2014.
Jack Wyman of the Portland Country Club secured third place, two shots off the pace, with a two-day score of one-over-par 145. He had a two-over 74 on Wednesday.
Malcolm Oliver of Damariscotta, who will be a senior at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, also shot a 74 to finish fourth at two-over par 146.
There was a three-way tie for fifth at three-over 147 involving Gavin Dugas of Pittsfield and Bangor’s Husson University; Henry Fall of Harpswell and Jeff Seavey, an assistant pro at the Samoset Resort Golf Club in Rockport.
Dugas, who will be a junior at Husson, was the only golfer to break par Wednesday as he shot a two-under par 70.
Dugas finished tied for 16th among 215 golfers at the NCAA Division III National Tournament at Mission Inn Resort and Club in Florida in May.
Rounding out the top 10 were Husson University golf coach Mike Dugas (76-73-149), Gavin’s father; Windham’s David Grygiel (79-72-151) and Cape Elizabeth’s John Hayes (73-79-152).