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"Age before beauty" does not apply in golf.

At least, not this weekend at Northwest Golf Course in Silver Spring, as 18-year-old Robert Balaban of Bethesda blew past 43-year-old Greg Bolling to win the Montgomery County Summer Amateur Men's Division title.

A rising senior at Landon, Balaban shot a 4-under-par round of 68 on day two of the tournament Sunday, taking the title by 10 strokes over the second-place finisher from Clarksburg. The two finished Saturday's round tied for the lead at 74.

"I can't keep up with these young kids," said Bolling, a 1985 Wheaton alumnus. "He put the accelerator down and I couldn't keep up."

Added Balaban: "This is my first amateur win. I definitely picked it up later in the round. I hit eight of my last nine greens."

Sponsored by the Montgomery County Revenue Authority, the tournament had its biggest turnout to date, with 76 competitors on the men's side and 101 total among women, juniors (18 and under) and seniors (50 and over) playing their respective divisions at Laytonsville Golf Course.

Founded by board chairman Stephen Edwards six years ago, the Summer Amateur expanded to two venues last year. Originally only played at Laytonsville, 130-plus participants a year ago necessitated change.

"We're getting bigger every year," said MCRA Director of Golf Operations Wayne Rohauer. "This is the most comprehensive golf tournament in Montgomery County."

The top two finishers were neck-and-neck through the seventh hole Sunday, when Bolling hit the longest ace in the tournament's history. His 234-yard eagle was so surprising, in fact, that only his playing partner knew about it.

"I didn't want to believe it," Bolling said. "I grabbed my putter and my wedge going up to the green and I'm like "Oh, my God.' That's my first hole-in-one in 30 years."

After that, Balaban turned it on. He immediately birdied the eighth hole to take the lead, then sank a 40-footer on 13 to gain another stroke.

All told, he shot 4-under on the back nine, with a 30-foot birdie putt on 18 for icing on the cake.

"I was kind of feeling it," Balaban said.

Montgomery County Summer Amateur

-Men's Division (gross)

1. Robert Balaban — 142

2. Greg Bolling — 152

3. Mike Connors — 154

-Men's Division (net)

1. Joe Hofman — 142

2. Wayne Wang — 143

3. Al Aldana — 146

-Senior Men's Division (gross)

1. Michael Brewery — 138

1. Paul Sager — 138 

1. Harry Rieckelman — 138 

-Senior Men's Division (net)

1. Gerard Bush — 140 

2. Ken Kasai — 142

3. Kevin Culligan — 147

-Women's Division (gross)

1. Kathy Gallagher — 155 

2. Margaret Ann Connors — 173 

3. Lorraine Dommell — 174 

-Women's Division (net)

1. Nancy Hobler — 133 

2. Winnie Harrigan — 135

3. Nadine Osinski — 138

-Juniors Division (gross)

1. Mike Fuller — 151 

2. Victor Adamson — 158

3. Connor Miller — 164

-Juniors Division (net)

1. Anthony Papio — 136 

2. Matt Paul — 139

3. Paul McDuffie — 141