Labritz wins State Open at Bethpage Black

Rob Labritz was prepared to sweat, which is why he wore a loose-fitting shirt and packed 10 or 15 fresh golf gloves in his bag. He also understood the real heat was going to come from Bethpage Black and the rest of the field in the final round of the New York State Open. Either way, he remained plenty cool.

"I was just trying to clear my brain. I didn't want to put any pressure on myself. I figured if I could just go out there and play golf and not worry about leader boards or what I needed to do or the hardness of the golf course, I could make good swings. And I did," said Labritz, whose titles include director of golf at GlenArbor Golf Club in Westchester and now, 2011 State Open champion. He finished at 6 under and won by two.

He didn't breeze through, as he had in the first two rounds, when he was 9 under and took a five-shot lead. He shot 3-over par 74 Thursday, and his lead was chopped to one down the stretch, first by young pro Chris DeForest (who played in the U.S. Open) and then Deepdale assistant pro Matt Dobyns, who was playing in the final group with Labritz.

Labritz, 40, had made three bogeys in four holes on the back and Dobyns had birdied 14 and 15 to move within one. The pressure and the wind were both intense when they reached the par-3 17th. Dobyns chipped 11 feet short, Labritz putted 10 feet past. Dobyns missed his par putt, Labritz made his and that was just about that.

He relied on lots of tournament experience, and three years as an assistant pro at Shinnecock Hills. "You come out here, where the greens are rolling hard and fast, you have to keep the ball down and play the front yardages," he said.

The champion is a money player -- not only because he promised fiancée Kelly Miller that the $17,500 first prize will help pay for the engagement ring. DeForest, who played a practice round with buddy Rory McIlroy at the Open, said, "Yes, I've played in the U.S. Open and I played in the Travelers, but you show up at a tournament like this and there are a lot of good players that people don't even realize. Labritz is a tested, fantastic golfer."

Dobyns said, "He just doesn't have any weaknesses. He has got strengths all over the place. And he handled his emotions well today." Dobyns, the 2011 Long Island Open champion, shot a solid par 71 to finish 4 under. "I wish I could have pulled one out. My whole family is here," he said. "But second place isn't so bad either."

Clancy Waugh, 16, a Long Island Amateur finalist, tied for ninth at 3 over and was low amateur.