Finally, with the Times-Republican City Golf Tournament title on the line, Davis found the bottom of the cup when it mattered the most.

Davis saved par from a precarious position near the parking lot above the 18th green, getting a 12-footer to plink into the hole to preserve his one-shot lead and victory on Sunday at the American Legion Memorial Golf Course.

Davis claimed his third City Open title by overtaking Greazel on the 33rd hole and holding him off for the final three of the 37th annual two-day tournament. An errant tee shot by Davis on the 18th hole opened one final window of opportunity for Greazel to force a playoff, but his long birdie putt came up a few feet short on the last hole.

After getting a family member to move their car from near where his tee shot rested just a pace away from the parking lot, Davis chipped to about 12 feet. After Greazel’s birdie putt missed its mark, Davis drained what he claimed was his second-longest make of the day.

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE - The winners of the 37th annual Times-Republican City Golf Tournament pose with their trophies on the 18th green on Sunday at the American Legion Memorial Golf Course. Pictured, from left, are Leiah Paustian, Brandon Dutton, Pete Kelly and Cole Davis.

“The only thing I wanted to do was hit it on the green, just on the green anywhere,” Davis said of standing on the 18th tee box. “It was like 180 (yards), pulled 8-iron which is about my 165 club, it’s downwind, and I pulled it a little bit. The adrenaline might have been rushing and I damn near hit it in the parking lot.”

Standing over the putt to win the tournament, Davis savored the situation.

“You try to control your breath,” he said. “The pressure and having a bunch of people around, knowing where you stand that if you miss the putt we’re going to a playoff and just being able to execute, that’s difficult. But that’s what we play for, at least I do — I enjoy that stuff.”

Greazel, who led by one stroke after shooting a tournament-record 7-under-par 63 on Saturday at Elmwood Country Club, led Davis by as many as two strokes on Sunday. Davis bogeyed the par-3 ninth but played steady golf on the back nine, charting eight pars and a lone birdie on the par-5 15th.

After bogeying Nos. 12 and 14, Greazel teed off into the trees and took a hard-earned par on 15 that allowed Davis to gain the lead for good.

T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE - Grant Greazel looks on as his birdie putt on the 16th green slides around the cup during Sunday’s round at the American Legion Memorial Golf Course.

“There might have been a little shift (on 14), but I think it was probably a bigger shift on 15 when he missed a short one for eagle that he probably wishes he had back, but I made a lousy five with a pretty bad tee ball,” said Greazel, the defending champion. “It’s a scoring hole and you just kinda blow your wad on it and come away from it barely making five.”

Both players had putts for birdies on Nos. 16 and 17, and Greazel’s attempt at a tying birdie on 18 never got the chance.

“I had a good line, I just didn’t hit it,” he said. “I think if I hit it, I had it, but it was just bad pace there. I would have rather blown it five feet past in that situation knowing it got there rather than leaving it right in the jaws if I hit it a foot and a half harder.

“I gave myself a pretty decent shot. I mean, 20-25 feet was a pretty solid (tee) shot. I gave it a run but just didn’t hit it hard enough.”

Davis dropped his par putt and raised his arms in celebration of his third City Open title, joining an elite group with three wins or more: Matt Steddom (10), Sam Zoske (4), Bill Benda (3) and Rob Christensen (3).

“It’s pretty cool, especially considering this might be my last (City Open) for at least a little while,” Davis said. “It’s just cool to win, especially when I passed up on a big tournament to do it.”

The Creighton University senior-to-be finished with a two-day total of 64-69–133, three strokes off the tournament record (130) he established two years ago.

Greazel, who is headed to Arizona in the fall, earned his fifth top-three finish in seven tries with a 63-71–134.

JD Pollard, a senior-to-be at Northern Iowa, took third place in a tournament that quickly became a two-man race. Pollard shot 72-72–144 to match his best finish from two years ago.

Aaron Fleming earned his best finish in three trips to the championship flight by placing fourth with a 74-72–146. Ryan Schmit matched Davis for the day’s best round of 1-under 69 and finished in a tie for fifth with Eli Polley, who played in the final foursome alongside Davis, Greazel and Pollard. Schmit shot 78-69–147, while Polley carded 72-75–147.

Brandon Dutton placed seventh overall with a 73-75–148 and earned the Senior title as well.

Pete Kelly claimed his fourth Super Senior championship with a 76-77–153, and Leiah Paustain picked up her first Women’s title after an 88-92–180.

Paustian, who played collegiate volleyball at DMACC, only picked up the game of golf three years ago.

“I just had a lot of fun,” she said. “I didn’t really think about winning or losing, just having fun. Today was a good day of golf.”

In the five-woman field, Paustian finished ahead of Riley Myers (184), Leah Stahlin (186), Margaret Fehrle (189) and three-time champion Terri Craft (194).

“Yesterday’s back nine was probably my highlight,” Paustian said of Saturday’s 39 at Elmwood. “Today was pretty mediocre. It was really up and down. I had some really good holes and some really bad holes, but overall it was a fun day.”

37th Annual Times-Republican City Golf Tournament

OPEN DIVISION

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

1. Cole Davis, -7, 64-69–133

2. Grant Greazel, -6, 63-71–134

3. JD Pollard, +4, 72-72–144

4. Aaron Fleming, +6, 74-72–146

T5. Ryan Schmit, +7, 78-69–147

T5. Eli Polley, +7, 72-75–147

7. Brandon Dutton, +8, 73-75–148

8. Taylor Wilson, +9, 76-73–149

T9. Joe Greazel, +12, 78-74–152

T9. Chad Moler, +12, 78-74–152

11. Troy Underhill, +13, 79-74–153

12. Rob Christensen, +14, 76-78–154

13. Drake Polley, +15, 73-82–155

14. Joe Myers, +16, 76-80–156

T15. Ty Faltys, +18, 79-79–158

T15. Riley Wirth, +18, 76-82–158

17. David Eichhorn, +20, 77-83–160

FIRST FLIGHT

T1. Hunter Polley, +15, 85-70–155

T1. Kelly Cooper, +15, 83-72–155

T1. Jeff Beeghly, +15, 82-73–155

T1. Todd Weaver, +15, 81-74–155

5. Mark Wolken, +18, 85-73–158

6. Joe Gibbons, +19, 83-76–159

7. Paul Collins, +21, 81-80–161

T8. Tyler Peschong, +22, 84-78–162

T8. Jacob Thiessen, +22, 83-79–162

T10. Austin Bedell, +23, 81-82–163

T10. Adam Boone, +23, 80-83–163

T12. John Grier, +27, 84-83–167

T12. Steve Ruddick, +27, 83-84–167

T12. Rylan Weaver, +27, 80-87–167

15. Mike Peschong, +32, 84-88–172

16. Wyatt Stalzer, +36, 80-96–176

SECOND FLIGHT

1. Ryan Bennett, +27, 87-80–167

2. Red Van Cleave, +28, 89-79–168

3. Carter Giannetto, +30, 86-84–170

T4. Brian Ferneau, +33, 89-84–173

T4. Mike Younkin, +33, 88-85–173

T6. Mike Ward, +34, 90-84–174

T6. Darin Shipley, +34, 90-84–174

T6. John Haney, +34, 87-87–174

T6. Chuck Misek, +34, 86-88–174

10. Dan Buffington, +37, 89-88–177

11. Brad Kadner, +39, 91-88–179

12. Dave Benz, +41, 90-91–181

T13. Shawn Morris, +42, 90-92–182

T13. Joel Chandler, +42, 89-93–182

15. Ron Davis, +43, 90-93–183

16. Ray Halverson, +51, 89-102–191

THIRD FLIGHT

1. Weeks, Donny, +34, 96-78–174

2. Bowie, Jim, +36, 93-83–176

3. Tice, Jeff, +38, 98-80–178

4. Blanchard, Chris, +39, 96-83–179

5. Driscoll, Devon, +40, 96-84–180

6. Carlson, Jim, +41, 97-84–181

T7. Ferneau, Bret, +42, 97-85–182

T7. Welch, Jeff, +42, 96-86–182

T7. Shipley, Will, +42, 92-90–182

10. Peart, John, +44, 97-87–184

11. Gould, Denny, +46, 97-89–186

12. Stahlin, Tyler, +48, 98-90–188

T13. Summers, Jerry, +49, 98-91–189

T13. Misek, Trae, +49, 96-93–189

15. Stahl, Nolan, +50, 97-93–190

16. Micllef, Blake, +60, 96-104–200

FOURTH FLIGHT

T1. Kent Carson, +48, 106-82–188

T1. Scott Riemenschneider, +48, 103-85–188

3. Doug Wirth, +50, 101-89–190

T4. Tayven Dutton, +52, 102-90–192

T4. Rob Van Horn, +52, 102-90–192

6. Chris McWherter, +56, 101-95–196

7. Joe Hannam, +58, 101-97–198

8. Eden Hernandez, +59, 105-94–199

9. Darrell Gardner, +60, 105-95–200

10. Drake McKeever, +62, 102-100–202

11. Trent Potter, +66, 106-100–206

12. John Caster, +67, 106-101–207

13. Ivan Hernandez, +69, 104-105–209

14. James Wilson, 106-NS–NS

FIFTH FLIGHT

1. Taylor Morgan, +63, 112-91–203

2. Todd Thimesch, +64, 110-94–204

3. Nick Buhr, +65, 112-93–205

4. Ben Kosbau, +68, 110-98–208

5. Brett Johnstone, +69, 107-102–209

6. Erik Barajas, +71, 107-104–211

7. Joe Gummert, +74, 115-99–214

8. Aristeo Hernandez, +77, 114-103–217

9. Jose Herrera, +78, 115-103–218

10. Steven Alvarez, +89, 121-108–229

11. Mike Garret, +109, 120-129–249

SUPER SENIOR

1. Pete Kelly, +12, 76-77–153

2. Tom Flemming, +29, 87-83–170

3. Tim Bell, +37, 94-84–178

4. Mick Blacburn, +57, 100-98–198

LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Leiah Paustian, +39, 88-92–180

2. Riley Myers, +43, 92-92–184

3. Leah Stahlin, +45, 92-94–186

4. Margaret Fehrle, +48, 97-92–189

5. Terri Craft, +53, 96-98–194