Mitch Hufstetler stood in the middle of the 18th fairway with a two-shot lead.

The only thought running through his head at the time was avoiding the bunker short and right of the green.

“Of course, the brain wasn’t listening,” Hufstetler said later.

His approach shot landed in the bunker adding drama to the Red Bud Invitational at Valleybrook Golf & Country Club.

Gary Baker already posted a 3-under 68 for the day which made him the leader in the clubhouse. A double-bogey from Hufstetler on the last hole would have forced a playoff.

Hufstetler made the bogey with a Baccarat cigar dangling from his lips. His shot out of the sand hit the face of the bunker and rolled off the back of the green. His first putt settled six feet from the cup, “throw-up range” as he called it. The final putt found the center of the cup.

“The putt looks straight, but it moves a little to left,” said Hufstetler, a member at Valleybrook.

Hufstetler shot an even-par 71 on Sunday to follow up his 4-under round on Saturday for the championship.

He paced a trio of 50-somethings including Baker who shot 3 under for the tournament and John Lambert who finished third at 1 over.

“We should have played in the senior division because we would have gone 1-2-3 there, too,” said the 51-year-old Lambert. “This golf course sets up well for short-knockers like us because it’s about position.

“Plus, you’re never really fifty unless you feel like you’re 50, and I ain’t 50.”

The top three finishers have a combined age of 153. They beat the likes of teenagers Zach Hester and Jacob Clark, college students Nick Carden and Blake Davidson, and mid-amateurs like Don Gregory and Robbie Treadway.

“It was fun to get those nervous feelings again,” Baker said. “That knot in your stomach, I almost have to have that. If I wasn’t nervous, I wouldn’t play as well.

“I’m proud of Mitch.”

Hufstetler dedicated the victory to two family members — his father Roy who passed away eight months ago, and hid grand-niece Emma who struggled during her delivery.

“It’s been a big week for me,” Hufstetler said. “This one belongs to them. I wish Dad could have been here.”

The late Mr. Hufstetler would have seen his son play two consistent rounds of golf. Hufstetler was hitting fairways and greens all weekend long.

“I made quite a few three-to-four footers for par and my putter has been good,” Hufstetler said of his old Bobby Grace putter. “The thing about Valleybrook is that it’s not a bombers course and you have to be in the right place.

“I’ve been one that the longer I think the worse it gets.”

He thought about the shot into the 18th green and it landed in a bunker. Because he survived the hole, he has plenty of time to think about the victory without suffering a penalty.

“I’ve had four surgeries on this (left) knee,” Hufstetler said. “About 10-12 years ago the doctor said that when I turn 50 I may have to consider getting it replaced.”

He has no plans for surgery — just a celebration.