Old Lyme – Before every match this week, Evan Grenus checked out the Connecticut Amateur Championship trophy.

Grenus, an 18-year-old from Glastonbury, never let himself think about adding his name to the prestigious list of champions.

He was too busy focusing on perfecting each shot and minimizing his mistakes while attempting to conquer the Black Hall Club course.

Not until Grenus defeated Greg Reilly 5-and-4 in an entertaining match between two first-time finalists did he think about being the champion.

"It means a lot," Grenus said. "Before each match, I was just gazing at the trophy and looking at the names on it and previous players who I play with all the time and players that you recognize. It's great to have my name on it now."

Grenus, who plays out of TPC River Highlands, seized an early lead in the scheduled 36-hole match, going 3-up by the end of the morning 18 holes. He never buckled in the afternoon, closing out the win on the 32nd hole.

When declared the winner, Grenus had little energy left to celebrate.

It was a mentally and physically draining week that started with 121 golfers competing in 36 holes of stroke play. Grenus had his doubts after shooting 79 in his first round on Monday.

"I was nervous about not qualifying for match play," said Grenus, who ended up the No. 26 seed.

Grenus, a member for the Wofford College golf team and three-time all-state selection at Glastonbury High School, survived several stiff tests to reach the championship match. He won each of his first three matches in extra holes, then showed championship form in Thursday's semifinals, beating defending champion Zach Zaback 7-and-6.

Reilly, a member at the Country Club of Darien, rode the birdie train to take a quick 2-up lead through four holes on Friday. Then Grenus got hot, winning six of the next seven holes with three birdies, two pars and a bogey.

"It gave me a comfortable lead so I didn't quite feel pressure as much," Grenus said.

Grenus played steady golf throughout the day, leaving Reilly little chance to close the gap. He carried a 3-up lead into the back nine of the second round and basically sealed his win on the par 3, 13th hole.

When Reilly's sand shot bounced off the green and found another bunker, Grenus drove home the dagger. His slow moving, downhill 20-putt rolled in for his second straight birdie. His lead grew to five and the match ended on the next hole.

"I was just trying to lag my shot down there," Grenus said. "It was kind just luck that it went in. I wasn't necessarily trying to make my putt.

"My putter was the best club in my bag. Once I got into match play, it really heated up. I made a lot of birdies in match play. I made like 13 (Thursday)."

For Reilly, who reached the state amateur semifinals in 2011, the defeat was hard to swallow.

"Right now, it's a little sour," Reilly said of his experience. "He played well, but I didn't play my best. If I played my best and lost, that's one thing. But I'm a little frustrated with how I hit the ball in the afternoon and how I putted."

With the win, Grenus became only the second player to win the Connecticut Junior Amateur and Connecticut Amateur titles in consecutive years.

To accomplish the feat at such a young age added to the accomplishment.

"This was one of the top three tournaments (this summer) I wanted to compete in and play well in and make it deep into the tournament," Grenus said. "Coming into the week, it wasn't necessarily a goal to win. It was a goal to play well and see how far I could take it.

"To win this tournament, you've got to have some luck on your side, too. You've got to get the right draws. You've got to get the right bounces. You've got to have a good putter. I'm glad that I won."

Grenus already is looking forward to next year's Connecticut State Amateur, which will be held at Wethersfield Country Club, another one of his home courses.

g.keefe@theday.com

Twitter: @GavinKeefe