Norwich – Dave Jones savored every moment of his Norwich Invitational championship match on Sunday.

It doesn't get much better on the golf course for the Norwich resident.

He captured the title in his favorite tournament and did it playing an entertaining and competitive match against longtime friend and former Waterford High School golf teammate Dan Hendrickson.

Earlier in the day, before leaving for their respective semifinal matches at Norwich Golf Course, they watched the British Open together at Jones' house, where Hendrickson stayed for the weekend while visiting from North Carolina.

"It means a lot, just to come out here and play and compete," Jones said. "And to play against Dan in the final, that's the dream. We talked to each other when he's down in Charlotte and we go, maybe one year we'll get in the finals together. I'm glad it worked out.

"... We're just very fortunate that we both got here. One reason I wasn't feeling nervous is I was just trying to savor the moment. It was like, this is right where I wanted to be and who I wanted to be playing with. And that actually relaxed me because I wanted to play with a friend."

Jones capped off a terrific weekend of golf by recording seven birdies, including five in the first seven holes to seize the lead for good, on the way to a 3-and-2 win. He held off several charges from Hendrickson, who was shooting for his third straight championship.

After burying a 10-foot birdie putt on 16 to clinch the victory, Jones pumped his right fist and shook hands with Hendrickson. It's his second title, the other coming in 2010.

Last year, Hendrickson eliminated Jones in the round of 16, sinking a birdie putt on the final hole to win.

"I thought I could have played a little better this afternoon," Hendrickson said. "It's a little disappointing. It's Dave, so he's playing great and he's a tough guy to beat."

Hendrickson kept the pressure on despite going down three through eight holes. He chipped away, winning the ninth, helped out by Jones sailing his tee shot out of bounds.

A lost opportunity cost Hendrickson on the par-5 12th hole. On his second shot, he hit perhaps the best shot of the round, driving the ball about 240 yards to within about eight feet of the pin. But his eagle putt lipped out and both golfers ended up with birdies.

"Maybe just a little more speed it would have gone in," Hendrickson said.

The gap closed to one when Hendrickson won the par-3 13th hole, but Jones extended his lead with a birdie on the par-5 14th, pulling it off with a nice two putt.

"That definitely was the turning point," Jones said.

Jones put the match away on the 16th, nicely sticking his second shot to within 10 feet and then calmly sinking the birdie putt for the win.

Before making the putt, Jones had a flashback to his semifinal match against top-seeded Chris DeLucia. It was decided on the 19th hole.

"It was deja vu from the morning with Chris when I had a four-up lead and we went extra holes," Jones said. "I knew that putt from this morning. It was the same type of putt that I had."

This may not be the last time that Jones and Hendrickson, who've been friends since elementary school and helped the Waterford golf team win a state championship in 1980, meet in the Norwich Invite.

Hendrickson hopes to return next year.

"It's worked out the last three years," Hendrickson said. "Hopefully, it will work out again."

It was Jones who convinced Hendrickson to come back to play in the Norwich Invitational after a prolonged absence. Hendrickson defeated Michael Thompson, 2 and 1, to reach the final.

Outside of some exchanges on the tee box, they had limited conversation during the round.

"It's very hard when you're playing against one of your best friends because you want to beat him, but you want to see him hit good shots, too," Jones said. "So you're rooting for him to hit good shots and you just want to hit one more good shot. That's all you want to do."

Mission accomplished for Jones.

g.keefe@theday.com

Twitter: @GavinKeefe