Carlton Woods Senior Invitational winner Jeff New
(Carlton Woods Invitational Photo)

"It was really difficult, the winds were blowing hard which it can do here," said Jeff New. "What made it even more difficult was that the wind was swirling and it made club selection difficult. It is already a difficult course and when you are in that situation with water to carry and high swirling winds it makes it really tough."

With the wind blowing and trouble lurking at the Nicklaus Course of The Club at Carlton Woods, New was able to hold it together just long enough to walk away with his first win in the event. A runner-up in 2014, New didn't birdie a hole during his final round but his 10 pars were enough to push him into the winners circle.

One of the biggest par's during his final round came on No. 14 when he got up and down from a green side bunker to save par. On the next hole New did drop a stroke with a bogey but he was happy, "to play those two holes in 1-over."

"I'd say this is one my best tournament wins ever," said New who won the Trans-Mississippi Senior two years ago. "I've played in this tournament for 11 of the last 12 years and I've come close in both divisions previously. Three years ago I had a really good chance and I didn't quite get it done and it has bugged me so I would say this is especially satisfying after coming close before. It makes it easier to erase some of the bad memories."

2015 champion Lee Sandlin finished second at 7-over, Mike Peck was third at 8-over while Mike Booker and Michael Mercier shared fourth at 11-over.

The low round of the day was a 1-over 73 carded by Jonathan Valuck who tied for ninth at 13-over.

36-Hole Recap

On the heels of a first round 4-under 68 Jeff New shot a second round 1-under 71 on Tuesday and at 5-under he will carry a comfortable six-stroke lead into the final round of the Carlton Woods Senior Invitational.

Playing at the Nicklaus Course of The Club at Carlton Woods, New carded four birdies and three bogeys on Wednesday and he is just one of two player in either field to have two consecutive subpar rounds.

New, the Carlton Woods Senior runner-up in 2014, recorded his birdies on Nos. 4, 5, 15 and 17. His back nine birdies were part of closing nine bogey-free 2-under 34.

Mike Peck is a distant second at 1-over, 2015 champion Lee Sandlin is third at 2-over while Mike Booker, Herb Fisher and Larry Nunez are tied for fourth at 3-over.