SEEKONK _ Even Jake Bauer, the new champion, admitted that he was a bit surprised by what happened this week in the 113th RIGA Amateur at Ledgemont Country Club.

          “It’s a little surreal,’’ the new champion said Friday afternoon after turning in a sensational performance in beating Matt Broome, 8 and 7, in the scheduled 36-hole title match.  “If you had told me at the beginning of the week I’d be standing in front of you guys talking about being the champion, I would have probably laughed.’’

         There was no laughing, only a lot of applause and congratulations, as the underdog Bauer not only won the title, he turned in one of the best performances ever in tournament history.

          “He played great golf,’’ is the way Broome described it. “I was under par. I was under par every round this week.  You’ve got to give him credit.’’

          This is how well Bauer played: Broome shot a 1-under 70 in the morning, but was 2-down because Bauer had 67.  And Bauer was just warming up. The lefty _ he joins four-time winner Brad Valois and two-time champ Charlie Blanchard as lefties who have won the title _ was nothing short of outstanding after lunch.

           Bauer had three-putted the 18th hole in the morning to lose that hole and see his lead drop from three to two holes. Playing in the biggest match of the life, the Portsmouth High and recent Johnson & Wales-Miami grad (he was an NAIA All-American as well as Academic All-American) admitted that he got a bit nervous at times and seemed to get ahead of himself at times.

         “I’m sort of a perfectionist,’’ he said. “I knew Matt is a really good golfer. I knew he was going to make it tough for me. I got a little anxious, a little nervous.’’ 

        He thought about the three-putt over lunch and “I told myself it was a minor fluke. Then made a great putt on first hole (the 19th).’’  The putt was for a bird, matching a bird by Broome on the par-5 hole.

       Bauer’s confidence was building. He birdied two and then three, too, to win both holes. Now he was up by four holes through 21. The two matched pars for the next three holes before Bauer got a little crazy.

        On the 460-yard par-4 seventh he hit a good drive.

      “I told my dad (Jim) who was carrying for me that I had 170 yards,’’ he related.  He had 149 yards to the green in the morning round and hit a nine-iron. Even with the additional yardage, he decided to hit nine iron again.

       “It was sort of sitting up I said,’’ he said. “I said, “I’m pretty jacked up right now. I’ll probably hit it a little harder. I hit it and I knew it was going to be really close. I saw it bounce and saw it disappear right down the flagstick. I saw one of the rule officials sort of freak out a little bit. I thought it had to be pretty close. Then I heard on the radio that it was in. That was when I celebrated.’’

      “That was the dagger right there,’’ Broome said. “I never give up, but sometimes you know it’s just not your day.’’

         It was an eagle. There was no stopping him now. He birdied the par-5 eighth. Then he rolled in a 20-foot downhill putt for still another bird on the ninth.

         “I shot 29 on the front. I’ve never shot under 30 in my life. That was pretty awesome,’’ said Bauer, whose previous best finish had been reaching the quarterfinals when the event was at Montaup, his home course.

        The two parred 10, then Bauer closed it out with a conceded bird on the 11th to make him the champion.

        As if winning the biggest title of his life was not enough, Bauer spoke about how the day also included receiving advice from his opponent. Broome, a Rhode Island Country Club product who won the 2008 New England Amateur, now works as an agent representing pro golfers. In fact, he headed to the airport after the match for a flight to Ireland where he will spend the weekend before heading to Scotland to work with clients during the British Open next week.

         “Matt is a great guy,’’ Bauer offered. “He gave me a lot of good advice for the next step with my professional life, just saying don’t rush it. If I don’t feel ready wait. Make sure you get your team together.’’

           “A lot of guys feel they have to go straight from school and get right out there,’’ Broome said. “I told him if you have to think about the long term, not just the short term.’’

       Bauer will play in next week’s New England Amateur, then try and qualify for the U.S. Amateur, which will be held at Pebble Beach. He plans to turn pro some time after that.

     “It definitely gives me a lot of confidence,’’ Bauer said. “It’s one week. I played really good this week. It definitely helps with my decision.’’