Groton — Corey Jones had a flashback during his Shennecossett men's club championship match on Sunday.

Memories of last year's final popped into his head.

Nerves got the best of Jones during his first appearance in the finals in 2018. He lost a four-hole lead in the second round of the 36-hole event and then lost the match to Mike Rege.

It proved to be a valuable learning experience.

"I had never been in a situation where I could win a golf tournament by myself," Jones said. "My legs felt like jelly and I couldn't hit a shot. I just collapsed under pressure. That experience in the moment hurt, but definitely helped a ton for this year."

It was a different outcome in his second trip to the final.

Jones carried a three-hole lead into the second round and held on to beat Steve Chevalier, 4-3.

"I was able to keep it together," Jones said. "It felt great to close it out."

The women's club championship went to first-time winner Jessica Hewitt, who defeated defending champion Margaret Hirsch, 2 and 1.

Jones faced a tough competitor in Chevalier, who earned medalist honors in qualifying by 15 strokes. On the way to the final, Chevalier steam-rolled his competition, including knocking off Rich Wilczewski, 4 and 3, in Saturday's semifinal. Jones defeated Ken Wetmore, 5 and 3, in his semifinal.

The first round of Sunday's championship match ended with Jones holding a 3-up lead. But Chevalier kept the pressure on.

Chevalier's birdie on No. 12 narrowed the gap to two.

Jones responded, winning two straight holes. He drained a birdie putt on No. 13 and scrambled out of the right rough to save par on No. 14 for a 4-up lead.

"From there, I just needed to hold it together and make a par somewhere," Jones said.

Jones maintained his composure and closed out the match.

Winning his first Shennecossett championship meant a great deal to Jones, who basically grew up on the course and lives near the 10th hole. He plays the Groton course almost every morning before work.

Jones, 23 and a 2014 Fitch High School graduate, is familiar with names on the championship board in the clubhouse.

"All these guys that I'm playing against in this tournament, when I was 13 they were all one, two, three handicaps," Jones  said. "They're like Gods to me. They're all big names. I was a 20 handicap back then.

"Being able to beat them, this is a dream come true. I don't actually have a goal after this. This is the end of the line. I didn't expect to get it at 23. It still even hasn't hit me yet."

Hewitt, who's from Groton, also had to really earn her victory. She watched her lead shrink to one hole on the back nine before pulling out her first championship win.

"I couldn't be happier," Hewitt said.

An impressive accomplishment considering Hewitt took up the golf just five years ago. She played field hockey at Waterford High School and also grew up playing softball. Her friends convinced her to take up golf and kept encouraging her.

Hewitt has been a member at Shennecossett for four years, reaching the women's club championship for the first time last year when she lost to Hirsch.

The rematch pitted two good friends and frequent playing partners.

"We play together every weekend," Hewitt said. "She honestly is my biggest motivator. She pushes me every weekend. So it was a fun match."

Hewitt seized an early lead and then saw the advantage shrink to two when Hirsch birdied the ninth hole.

"I knew we had a lot of holes left to play," Hewitt said. "It could have gone either way."

Hewitt never felt comfortable until the end, especially when Hirsch captured No. 14 to slice the deficit to one. She regained the momentum, winning No. 16 and halving the 17th to clinch the win.

"My heart started beating again," Hewitt said.

Hewitt was still processing the win when asked what it meant to her.

"Now that I'm reflecting, it feels really good to know that I can do it," Hewitt said.

g.keefe@theday.com