Despite losing a stroke, Ditcher was able to salvage a bogey on the hole, just his third of the day, playing pretty flawless golf all the way until his par putt rolled into the cup on the 18th green to give him his second Riggs Memorial Champions victory with a score of 1-over 73.

“It feels good,” Ditcher said about the win. “It’s always fun getting back over here with all the guys that either won their club championships or play in this pretty consistently. It’s great to see everyone, but it always feels good to come out on top. … I love the camaraderie, love the history of this tournament and it’s just a lot of fun to play in.”

Ditcher returns to the champions circle with a 36-37-73 after winning the event in 2018 at Jackson Valley Golf Course as the Cardinal Hills Golf Course and Chautauqua Golf Club club champion.

“Nick Giambrone in my group was playing quite solid. We were neck and neck for quite a few holes,” Ditcher said about his position in the field. “I think I pulled one away from him on 16, so I knew I had a one-shot lead in my group. But really I had no idea where everyone else was coming in. You just never know. There’s a lot of good golfers in this tournament and someone’s liable to break something off in the 60s every now and then. I just did my best to finish strong, make solid swings and get into the clubhouse with a solid score and see where everyone stacked up.”

Nolan Ditcher, left, is pictured with the 2025 Riggs Memorial Champions bowl, while Austin Stoddard, right, holds the second-place bowl just beyond the 18th green on the Lake Course at Chautauqua Golf Club on Sunday. OBSERVER Photo by Scott Kindberg

The difference for Ditcher was his ability to get out of tough situations and escape with pars on plenty of up-and-downs.

“It was an interesting round for sure,” Ditcher added about his performance. “Honestly, I didn’t hit the ball super, but I got up and down a lot. I would have to go back and do the calculations, but I probably got up and down for par on the front five or six times. I kept it pretty steady. I hit one in the hazard on 14, managed to save a bogey there. Just kind of a steady round, kind of scrambling, but I scrambled well and scored OK. … When you don’t have your best stuff sometimes, you’ve got to lean on other areas of your game. You’re not going to have everything firing every day and thankfully the chipping was really solid today and the putter was OK. I don’t think I had any three-putts today and that helped keep the card relatively clean.”

When Ditcher first became a champion in 2018 he was a member of St. Bonaventure’s Division I golf program, but now at 27 it has been a little different of a process to be crowned as the top scratch club champion from The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer circulation areas.

In 2018, Ditcher waited in the clubhouse to see if his score of 68 would hold for the championship, but this year the field patiently watched to see if he would falter to trigger a five-man playoff.

As Ditcher stayed steady the whole day, Austin Stoddard, the 2024 Cable Hollow Golf Course champion, came alive on the back nine and shot 2-under to finish with a 74 and claim the second-place bowl.

Past champion Nolan Swanson putts on No. 18 as his sons Braylon, left, and Carson, right, look on. OBSERVER Photo by Scott Kindberg

“The front nine was a little rough, so the back nine we had nothing to lose,” Stoddard stated. “Brought the C-game on the front and flipped the switch and brought the A-game on the back nine. Shout out to my caddie Christian Zavinski. He came up from Washington, D.C. to support me.”

Stoddard’s 35 on the back pulled him level with past champions Giambrone, Taylor Beaver and Nolan Swanson.

“Just a level head, there was nothing to lose,” Stoddard said about his back-nine performance. “I just hit the best shot I can on every shot. We did come down to the wire on 18 there. I told my caddie we needed this up and down. That would have been three birdies in a row. I don’t play here often. It’s been two years since I’ve been here and I don’t recall that slope on that right side of that green. Either way, you’ve got a bunch of other 74s out there, so I’ve got to give them kudos as well.”

Going 4-over on the front put Stoddard at 39, and at the turn he played a little more loosely with three birdies on Nos. 13, 16 and 17 to put himself right in contention for the title.

“It’s a great event,” Stoddard added. “I think we lack in this community a true amateur event and this has got that feel to it. It’s great to recognize the club champions. Winning a club championship you’ve got two days of what we did today. It’s not shoot a good round and call it a day. You’ve got to grind for two days. Anybody that wins a club championship around this area, they’re talented.”

Pinehurst Golf Club champion Darien Swanson hits out of the green-side bunker on No. 18 on the Lake Course at Chautauqua Golf Club during the Riggs Memorial Champions on Sunday. OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms

Finishing 3-over were Scott Crist and Jay Lindell at 75, while both Jason Stronz and PJ Gronquist fired 76s. Darien Swanson followed with a 77, Casey Vincent carded a 79, Jordan Marsh shot 80, the trio of Greg Winter, Peter Caprino and Skete Williams had 81, Scott Jagoda shot 85, Josh Harrington finished with 87, Dave Anderson ended at 89 and Pat Smith rounded out the field with a 91.

“I love the tournament,” Ditcher stated. “I love seeing everyone. It’s a great tradition and I hope I can continue to compete for a number of years to come. It’s always one of my favorite days of the year.”

Champion

Nolan Ditcher 73

Runner-up

Cassadaga Country Club champion Scott Jagoda hits out of the green-side bunker on No. 18 on the Lake Course at Chautauqua Golf Club during the Riggs Memorial Champions on Sunday. OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms

Austin Stoddard 74

Taylor Beaver 74

Nick Giambrone 74

Nolan Swanson 74

Scott Crist 75

Jay Lindell 75

Jason Stronz 76

PJ Gronquist 76

Darien Swanson 77

Casey Vincent 79

Jordan Marsh 80

Greg Winter 81

Peter Caprino 81

Skete Williams 81

Scott Jagoda 85

Josh Harrington 87

Dave Anderson 89

Pat Smith 91