MANCHESTER — Ah, the perils, pitfalls and reality checks of being a professional golfer whose tournaments aren’t on TV and whose body isn’t outfitted in sponsor-labeled apparel.

Matthew Campbell had an eight-hour ride ahead of him Tuesday night to Rome, N.Y., where he was expected to report to work Wednesday at 6 a.m.

Sleep and concentration might not have come easily, anyway, what with Campbell, 26, over the moon about his first pro victory at the Charlie’s Maine Open.

Campbell shot 7-under 63 for a two-day total of 9-under 131, rallying from a four-shot overnight deficit to defeat David Hilgers by a shot at Augusta Country Club.

“It was about 64, I figured, that would give me an outside chance,” Campbell said. “A couple putts went in on the back nine. I knew I had to make them coming in.”

Yeah, a couple.

Campbell made birdie on seven of his last 11 holes. And after outlasting a 76-minute weather delay during his round, Campbell had to wait two hours while the first-day leaders rallied.

“I was just putting around. Went to the gas station, got a Gatorade and just kind of hung out,” Campbell said. “I was on my phone, scoreboard-watching the whole time. I was pretty nervous.”

Hilgers of Hershey, Pa., and Brian Agee of Leesburg, Va., each had the chance to force a sudden-death playoff with eagle at the par-5 18th hole.

Agee’s best opportunity evaporated when he hit his drive into the tree line to the right of the fairway.

“I was completely blocked out by the pines. And to top it all off, a sliced 3-wood was an option from 245, but the ball was sitting on a root,” Agee said. “You can’t do that. I just punched it out. I figured I was going to hit a better wedge shot third than from wherever the ball was going to end up.”

The safe play left Agee 130 yards from the pin. His Hail Mary for a share of the lead landed 10 feet past the hole, and he missed the birdie putt.

Hilgers valiantly tried to reach the green but hit his second shot onto a cart path to the left, beyond the hole.

His chip for a miracle tie missed by only four feet, setting up birdie to salvage 67 for the day and 132 for the tournament. That locked up second place, one shot ahead of Agee and Eric Beringer of Deerfield Beach, Fla.

“I knew (Campbell) was at nine in the clubhouse, so I knew where I had to get to,” Hilgers said. “That makes your swing a little hesitant sometimes.”

Campbell was tied for 23rd place, four shots behind Agee, after his opening-round 68. Then he bogeyed the second hole to get moving day off to a sputtering start.

The first of his eight birdies dropped at No. 4, and consecutive birdies at 8, 9 and 10 got Campbell into a rhythm just as thunderheads necessitated a break.

He didn’t see it as a momentum-breaker. Rather, it was an opportunity to relax his mind and assess his goals for the finishing kick.

“Right out of the gate I birdied 12 and 13,” Campbell said. “I just kept the momentum going there.”

Campbell capped his gem with birdies on the par-3 15th and the 18th.

Equally important, he said, was his steady play at 14, 16 and 17.

“I made a lot of good par saves from four or five feet and kept on grinding,” Campbell said.

Agee and Hilgers already were struggling when Maine State Golf Association official Randy Hodsdon granted their request for a scoring update.

“That spurred it a little bit. I think I asked the question on 10 green if there was anybody in low,” Agee sad. “Of course I promptly made bogey after finding that out, but I made a few birdies coming in.”

Consecutive bogeys at 9, 10 and 11 dropped Hilgers from the lead to 5-under, four shots behind Campbell. Agee’s struggles at 11 kicked him five back.

“I got off to the start I wanted,” Hilgers said. “I was 3-under through eight. Then I made three bogeys in a row to get to even, and I battled to get to 3-under on the back nine after that. So I was pleased with how I played.”

Agee birdied 12, 14 and 16, then narrowly missed a 30-foot try at 17 that would have cut his deficit to one.

Hilgers made putts at 12 and 13 to close the gap but was bitten by the two-tiered green at 14 and settled for bogey. He holed a wedge from beyond the right-side bunker for a sensational birdie at 17 to give himself a chance.

“Three rough holes,” Hilgers said. “I hit a couple bad tee shots on 10 and 11 and a bad approach at 9. If a couple of putts go in, I’m right there, or in a playoff.”

Jason Parajeckas and Jesse Larson tied for fifth at 6-under 134.

Shawn Warren of Cape Elizabeth, who was minus-3 and in a tie for 14th, was low Maine pro. Sam Grindle of Deer Isle shot 69 for a two-day total of 140 and was low amateur.

Campbell unsuccessfully tried the U.S. Amateur qualifier four years ago after graduating from Newberry (S.C.) College. He turned pro after that.

“I’ve been within a couple shots but haven’t really been there. A lot of top-10s. I just finally came through,” Campbell said. “I had my wedges pretty dialed in, and I had a lot of wedges in my hand coming in. I took advantage, finally.”

And was able to pack up his car and go home … finally.

koakes@sunjournal.com

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