AUBURN - Mike Lesch found himself late Sunday afternoon standing triumphant at the top of the Cayuga County District Men's Golf Tournament.

Over the course of three days, Lesch played his way through a field of 43 competitors at Dutch Hollow, Lakeview and Highland Park to be victorious.

“It feels great,” Lesch, 24, said. “There are a lot of good golfers here and it was a lot of fun to play against them and to win feels really good.”

Lesch also took home top honors in 2001.

“That was really great,” Lesch said.

“I was 18 and playing against some really good golfers and I guess I was just playing really well then and was able to win.”

But for the Auburn native, the game goes much further back.

“I've been playing for as long as I can remember,” Lesch said.

“My dad and my brothers always played and they'd always take me out and I just feel in love with the game.”

As a youth golfer, Lesch said that he studied with various local pros and always picking up a few pointers from his family.

By the time Lesch had made it to high school, he was on the Auburn varsity boys team, where he had a fairly successful career.

“I made it to states twice,” Lesch said. “I didn't do so well my first time there, but the second year I think I was around 20th place.”

Growing up, Lesch was a regular participant in the Bobby Hoey Junior Tournament, with solid finishes; he made his first Cayuga County Men's Districts appearance when he was 15.

“All the high qualifiers got to play,” Lesch said. “I don't really remember how I did but it was a lot fun to be able to play in this tournament at 15.”

After graduating, Lesch went on to LeMoyne where he also played golf for four years, making nationals his freshman season.

“I was like one of 12 from a D(ivision) II school from the whole country,” Lesch said. “That was a real honor for me to make it.”

Since graduating, Lesch has returned home to Auburn, working for a local accounting firm.

And while work consumes much of his time now, he still manages to hit the greens at least a few times a week.

“I'm a member at Owasco (Country Club) now,” Lesch said.

“I usually play two or three times a week, not as much as I'd like to, but I still get out a lot. It is a great game and something you can do for the rest of your life.”

His approach to the game is pretty laid back these days, but Lesch said that he still enjoys competing.

“I like to compete,” Lesch said.

“I still play in a few tournaments. I don't get in as many singles tournaments as I'd like to, I seem to find myself on the scramble circuit, playing a lot of four-man scrambles with people at work and everything. But there are a few more I'll probably get in before summer is over.”

Winning his second Cayuga County District title came as something of a surprise for Lesch who was a last-minute entry.

He rallied on Sunday, shooting a 66, to beat Matt Steigerwald.

“Matt had a really good score,” Lesch said. “I had to come from behind. Coming in I really didn't know what to expect I wasn't even sure if I was going to play this year. But I always expect myself to play well. I take a lot of pride in my putting. That was working well and so I think I was able to play pretty well.”

And with at least a couple more months of sun and warm weather, Lesch just wants to keep hitting the greens as much as he can.

“There are a couple best-ball tournaments I'll probably enter,” Lesch said.

“But really, I just want to get out and play as much as I can, that is my big goal.”