If Kerry Wentling was to walk away from competitive golf, he would retire as an undefeated champion. But there would be no defense for that.

On Friday afternoon at Lebanon Valley Golf Course in Myerstown, Wentling won the title of the 27th annual Lebanon County Senior Amateur tournament on his first try. Competing on his 5,761-yard, par-71 home course, Wentling fired a five-under par score of 66 to nudge runner-up Logan Sheetz by a couple of shots.

Wentling’s round featured six birdies, an eagle and three bogeys. But the key to his title may have been the hot putter he wielded. Wentling counted a mere 25 putts among his 66 strokes.

After trailing Sheetz by a shot at the turn, Wentling made his move on LVGC’s back nine. Wentling really got it going coming in, and carded a four-under par 31 on the back.

Wentling had gotten to three-under par by draining a 15-foot eagle putt on the par-five seventh hole. But bogeys at the next two holes brought him back to earth, temporarily.

Wentling has no intentions of vacating his championship. Plans are already being hatched for Wentling to defend his crown in 2015.

– Jeff Falk