Matt Nicholas and Blake DeReese were deadlocked with six holes left in the Lake Charles City Championship on Sunday at Mallard Golf Course.

Then DeReese, the 36-hole leader, ran into trouble on back-to-back holes, opening the door for Nicholas to win his fifth championship and first since 2016.

“It was great,” Nicholas said. “We had a good time.

“Blake played extremely well. I really had to play some good golf to beat him.

“The course was in excellent shape. It was a fun weekend, and the weather held out. I have had a really good summer so far and playing some of the best golf of my life. I am working hard at it. It was really rewarding to know when someone is playing well and to track him down and come out on top.”

The final round started play on the back nine, then closed out on the front nine.

DeReese and Nicholas each birdied No. 4, leaving both at 8-under. Nicholas’ putt nearly lipped out.

Then DeReese found himself in a sand trap to the right of the 5th green and needed three shots to get out of it. His double bogey gave Nicholas a 2-shot lead which increased to three after DeReese three-putted on No. 6.

“He (DeReese) caught one bad break and made one bad swing or it could have been different,” Nicholas said. “When Blake is playing really well, he is hard to beat as well.”

Meanwhile, Nicholas stayed steady down the stretch with pars on the final five holes to finish at 8-under and two shots ahead of DeReese.

Nicholas was the only golfer with three under-par rounds.

Nicholas started the final nine holes with a bogey on No. 1 but a birdie on No. 2 made DeReese’s lead short-lived.

“I would say my mental game is strong,” Nicholas said. “I don’t let ups and downs bother me.

“Golf is 18 holes. It is long and it’s hot. If you let anything bother you, your mental capacity is not going to be able to take it. I would say mentally I was prepared. I have been here before and I have won a lot of golf tournaments, so I just hung in there and today was my day.”

Thad Gaspard (219), John Morrissey (220) and Gage Primeaux (221) rounded out the top five.

Lake Charles City Championship

Scores

Championship Flight

Matt Nicholas 68-71-69—208 -8

Blake DeReese 69-69-72—210 -6

Thad Gaspard 73-70-76—219 +3

John Morrissey 73-70-77—220 +4

Gage Primeaux 74-78-69—221 +5

Cody Vincent 73-73-77—223 +7

Zachary Robertson 76-73-77—226 +10

Clint Stewart 74-76-76—226 +10

Neithan Allen 81-74-76—231 +15

Channing Kile 74-80-78—232 +16

Ian James 77-79-78—234 +18

Connor Castille 79-78-78—235 +19

Byron Martin 79-81-78—238 +22

Kye Hanks 75-80-86—241 +25

Landon Beier 87-79-80—246 +30

Chris Gentry 83-84-80—247 +31

Jaxson Caldwell 88-88-79—255 +39

Alex Augustine 78-74-WD

Hank Shaheen WD

First Flight

Jake Smith 80-75—155

Bill Hamrick 77-81—158

David Martin 77-81—158

Chance Curlee 79-83—162

Cody Stroud 83-80—163

David Girola 85-86—171

Chance Terrell 79-99—178

Second Flight

Noah Hinton 82-75—157

Zachary Vincent 77-80—157

Mike Castille 81-85—166

Cole Bergeron 81-87—168

Tyler Richard 82-87—169

Austin Creel 83-87—170

Connor Thompson 88-91—179

Patrick Osborne 87-92—179

Third Flight

Matt Purgahn 74-79—153

Williams Wiese 80-79—159

Clayton Ashford 80-81—161

David Duzan 79-83—162

Mike Farley 79-84—163

Jeffrey Harper 84-83—167

Billy Creel 88-81—169

Mike Beglis 86-83—169

Andrew Hebert 90-81—171

Gray Guillory 85-87—172

Tyler Istre 85-90—175

Alvin Langley 90-91—181

Jake Daughenbaugh NC

Fourth Flight

Dwight Gerst 76-77—153

Michael Yocham 80-83—163

Samuel Lavoi 79-88—167

Matt Stewart 88-81—169

Blake Reynolds 86-84—170

Ricky Menard 91-89—180

Alex Buller 95-88—183

Dewayne Hightower WD

Fifth Flight

Jordan Poole 74-79—153

Ryan Benoit 81-73—154

Cody Miller 80-75—155

Tony Colletta 75-81—156

Jason Kaliszeski 79-77—156

Brandon Picou 75-81—156

Chase Parmentier 84-84—168

Derrick Fendley 94-90—184

Shane Curlee 80-WD

Caleb Miller 85-DNF

Senior Flight

Doug Quienalty 74-79—153

Michael Broussard 72-79—155

Troy Higginbotham 75-80—155

Bille Kiteley 81-78—159

Kurt Hamilton 83-81—164

Joey Bourgeois 84-81—165

Walt Dulany 81-85—166

Kevin Primeaux 88-81—169

Ricky Norwood 87-84—171

Doyle Carter 83-91—174

David Huber 93-83—176

Philip Jardell 96-83—179

Carl Lemaire 91-88—179

Brad Buller 89-92—181

Todd Fontenot 88-97—185

Scott Landreneau 90-97—187

Randy Jones 96-92—189

Terry Hagen 97-92—189

Todd Mathis 99-97—196

Michael Carter 102-96—198

Vince Castille 101-100—201

Timothy Meyer 85-NC

Brent Soileau WD

Mike Abshire WD

Super Senior Flight

Sid Bradley 73-81—154

Randy Tadlock 78-81—159

Charlie Buller 81-81—162

Pap Williams 86-82—168

Sam Morris 82-88—170

Joe Landry 86-88—174

Lindsay Barnes 87-88—175

Mike Cagle 90-86—176

Val East 87-89—176

Terry Mullis 92-95—187

Ricky Anderson 97-91—188

Dexter Naylor 96-92—188

Sam Marsiglia 100-91—191

Gene Loar 98-95—193

Samuel Baynes 103-96—199

David Flanagan 81-WD