65th Porter Cup Winner: Kendall Todd, Chase Nevins

LEWISTON, N.Y. (WIVB) — Sparked by one of the best opening rounds in tournament history, Virginia native Chase Nevins held off a charge from hometown favorite Ryan Edholm to win a hard-fought 65th Porter Cup title Saturday at Niagara Falls Country Club, while Arizona’s Kendall Todd powered through the field to become the 13th women’s champion.

Nevins and Edholm entered the 72nd hole of the tournament at 11 under par 4. Edholm hit his 6-iron over the green, hit a fan to stay in bounds and made bogey on the par-3 hole after chipping and two-putting. Nevins dropped his 8-iron on the green for par to win the tournament.

“It’s huge. I haven’t won since probably this time in 2022, so it’s been two years,” said Nevins, who opened Wednesday with an 8-under-par 62, tied for the second-lowest round in tournament history. “There’s nothing like turning around and being tied for the lead in a tournament like this. You really can’t replicate that in practice. That’s what I work for every day, to be able to come out when all these people are out there and hit the big shots when you need to.”

Edholm, a senior at Canisius College in Tonawanda, was trying to become the second Western New Yorker in 60 years to win the prestigious amateur event. He took the lead with a 1-putt on the 320-yard 10th hole but fell back with bogeys on three of the final six holes and tied for second with Garrett Engle and Noah Kent at 10 under par.

“It was a great week, and it was fun to play that well the whole way,” Edholm said. “To fall short is obviously a shame. But to play that well is pretty cool, to have the crowd on my side is nice.”