Paul Apyan didn’t bother to scream after the bad shots or yell after the good putts.

He barely had a voice during the final round of the Ira Templeton Chattanooga Open at Creeks Bend Golf Club.

The Southern Miss senior-to-be drove back and forth to Atlanta three straight nights to root on the USM baseball team against Georgia Tech.

The Golden Eagles won Monday night and advanced to a super regional. Apyan won his second Chattanooga Open championship Tuesday by seven strokes.

“Winning stuff on your own is fun, but when you have friends to support you, it means a little more and I wanted to be there for two of my best friends,” said Apyan, who won the 2005 event. “I was a little hoarse today. I was down there doing what fans are supposed to do.”

Apyan avoided the postgame dog pile on the infield Monday night. But he joined classmates on the field.

“I had to be there when it was over, and I had to celebrate with my friends,” Apyan said. “You can’t replace friends or family. I’m going to Gainesville to watch them play Florida.”

Apyan can take the time off because his golf game seems to be peaking. He shot an 8-under-par 62 on Monday and followed with a 67 on Tuesday.

Pro Loren Personett from Antioch, Tenn., finished second at 4-under 136 for the tournament. Henrik Simonsen of The Honors Course and amateurs Jason Gandy of Knoxville and John Fox of Oliver Springs tied for third at 138. Keith Burdette from Bear Trace at Harrison Bay tied for sixth at 139, and area players Bruce Etter, Rob Riddle and Tom Schreiner were among the five players tied for eighth at even par.

Personett earned $3,000 for having the best score among the professionals, and Simonsen won $1,500 for finishing second among professionals.

“I missed a few shots, but it was nothing special,” Personett said. “I didn’t know if I was going to play, because I pulled my thumbnail way back on Saturday and it started bleeding again yesterday. I am happy.”

Personett and Fox played in the final group with Apyan.

“I was just playing for second,” Fox said. “I didn’t think there was any way anybody was going to catch him. I was out there having fun and trying not to snap-hook it off the planet.”

Pro Mark Houser from Kingsport won the senior division at 5 under by one stroke over Doug Harris of Franklin. Hunt Gilliland, Council Fire’s director of golf, tied for fifth at 140.

Nobody threatened Apyan. A birdie for him on the first hole — despite the exciting night before — put him on the right track early to avoid a second-round meltdown.

“It’s hard to come back after a low round like that, so it was a good start,” Apyan said. “Somebody could have shot a 62 like I did yesterday and got in the mix. I had to tell myself that I’m still here.”

He made the turn at 3 under and shot even-par on the back nine. His scorecard looks pretty simple, but he hit only nine greens, requiring a good day of chipping. He putted only 24 times.

“After a couple of good up-and-downs, I felt comfortable no matter where I hit it because I knew I could make par,” Apyan said. “Typically the weakest part of my game has been chipping.”

All of his cheering clearly didn’t hurt his chipping or putting.

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