AUBURN - Mike Lesch won the Cayuga County Men's District Golf Tournament championship trophy after shooting a 66 at Highland Park Golf Club on Sunday for a three-day total of 212.

For Lesch, who also won the district championship in 2001, this victory came a surprise.

“I came from behind,” said Lesch, 24. “There were some really good players. I came from behind (Matt) Steigerwald, he had a 69, a really great score, and I came from behind to beat him today.”

Lesch, who has played in the tournament seven times since he was 15, said the tournament, the players and all three courses (Dutch Hollow, Lake View Country Club and Highland) presented challenges that made for a great three days of competition.

“There were a lot of really good golfers,” Lesch said. “It was good competition and all the courses were nice to play and with the lack of water we've had the (grounds) keepers have done a great job keeping them up. It was really fun to play this year.”

Taking home the championship is a great honor for Lesch.

“It feels really good,” Lesch said. “I think I played pretty well and I felt pretty good with my game and it just feels great to win against all these other great players.”

The tournament, which dates back to 1930, has had its ups and downs over the years.

“We've had peaks and valleys,” said Mike DiMatteo, who along with Dan Mahoney and John Donovan, served as this year's co-chairs, said. “I remember years where we had 100 or more guys out there to play, this year we had 43.”

DiMatteo pointed out that in the years since the district shampionship started, a number of new tournaments have started.

“Now people can pick and choose which ones they want to play,” DiMatteo said. “But golf is kind of down all over the place right now, but it will make its way back eventually.”

And while the turnout may have been down a little, it does not diminish the tournament's power or excitement.

“I think the biggest thing about this tournament is that if you win you are the champion of the Cayuga County district,” DiMatteo said. “That is a really big thing about this, something to be proud of. I think that still makes it exciting and makes for a really good tournament.”

The lower number of competitors did come as a bit of a disappointment to some players, but overall it did not diminish from the overall impact of the competition.

“I think it is a great tournament,” said Dennis O'Donnell, who has played for six years. “It is too bad more people didn't turn out to play, but there really are so many more now, like there was one in Weedsport this weekend so a lot of guys were there, but I still think it was great.”

Many longtime players, such as Tom Hoye, Sr., who earned the top spot in the third flight with a three-day total of 261, believe that with a little work, the tournament could have a larger turnout.

“I remember playing one year,” said Hoye, who has played for 10 years. “They always say the limit is 120 and we had pretty close to that. I think a lot of people just don't know about it, but if they could do a little more to get the word out I think it definitely could grow, it is a good tournament and it would be great to see more people come out to play in it.”

Champion Mike Lesch, three-day total, 212

First-flight winner Tom Costello, 231

Second-flight winner Art Luke, 253

Third-flight winner Tom Hoye, Sr., 261