Groton — Shortly after winning his first Shennecossett Golf Course men’s club championship in 26 years, Mark Toscano still couldn’t believe it.

So many years had passed since Toscano, 65, won his first club title in 1998, that he figured his glory days were over.

Then the unexpected happened on Sunday, as Toscano closed out the championship match on the 17th hole to beat first-time finalist Shamus McLean, 2 and 1, in the scheduled 36-hole final.

“Holy cow,” Toscano said. “I’m just in shock. It still hasn’t sunk in. I never expected it. And nobody else gave me much of a chance either.”

Toscano, a Westerly resident, is a long-time Shennecossett member, joining the club in 1995.

Three years later, Toscano captured his first men’s title.

Since then, Toscano has appeared in two finals, losing both.

He never expected to be competing for bragging rights when the men’s club championship tournament began in July. He surprised himself by reaching the semifinals, where defending champion and five-time winner Steve Chevalier served as a formidable roadblock.

His remarkable run continued, as he beat Chevalier Saturday for the first time, posting a 4 and 3 victory.

“It was very satisfying and unexpected,” Toscano said.

The championship match on Sunday remained tight throughout.

McLean led by one hole after the morning 18 and extended his lead to three early in the afternoon round.

That’s when Toscano started his comeback. He rang up birdies on the 8th and 9th holes, sinking a 25-foot putt on the former and an 8-footer on the latter, to cut the gap to one.

Toscano surged in front by winning No. 15 with a birdie and No. 16 with a par before finishing off the championship win on No. 17.

“I’m ecstatic,” Toscano said. “I never gave myself a chance. Bottom line, practice pays off.”

Buying a new putter two weeks ago also paid off. He also used a putting device called TracPutt that helped guide his stroke.

“The difference in my game was my putting, hands down,” Toscano said. “That’s how I won.”

Hewitt captures her 5th title

The Shennecossett women’s club championship featured a rematch between last year’s finalists Jessica Hewitt and Kelly Morrissey.

Once again, Hewitt outlasted Morrissey, this time 2-up. It was Hewitt’s fourth straight club title and fifth overall.

“It’s awesome,” Hewitt said.

The score was even halfway through the 18-hole match. Then Morrissey won two straight holes to go 2-up through 11.

Hewitt, a Groton resident, showed her competitive grit and responded. She won No. 12 and No. 14 to even the score and captured the next two holes to go 2-up.

On the 16th, Hewitt recovered nicely after her tee shot landed in the fairway bunker and she finished with a hole-winning par.

After Morrissey cut the deficit to one after taking No. 17, Hewitt secured the title on the final hole.

“It definitely pumped up my adrenaline,” Hewitt said about the two-hole deficit. “I needed to do something. I got more aggressive and I finally hit some good putts. And that was all it took.”

Hewitt enjoyed playing against Morrissey.

“She’s so good,” Hewitt said. “She’s a lot of fun. She hits most fairways. She played so well. And her putter always scares me.”

g.keefe@theday.com