PLYMOUTH – Bob Branham didn’t have the type of start he was expecting in the first round of the Chenango County Amateur Golf Tournament, but he finished in typically strong fashion.

Branham, playing his first Amateur since the tournament’s revival two years ago, coasted to a five-shot win over 2011 champion Eric Walling Sunday at Canasawacta Country Club. Branham also earned the daily double taking the men’s senior scratch division outdistancing runner-up Mark DeMellier.

Rick Ferris shot a net 15-under-par over the two-day event to win the men’s handicap division, while 14-year-old Brenon Maynard repeated as the junior champion.

Playing the first round at Afton Golf Club, the dry conditions and favorable course set-up lent itself to some low scores. Branham, though, bogeyed three of the opening four holes. He three-putted the opening green, and failed to get up-and-down on the third and fourth holes. “I think it was partly nerves,” Branham said of his slow start. “I’ve played for years and won before, but the nerves do not go away, and I hope they never do. I just kept my patience, battled back, and things evened out.”

Branham birdied the fifth and seventh holes to finish out the front nine at Afton at one-over-par, and he had an unblemished back nine spotlighted by birdies on 11 and 18 to finish with a one-under-par 71.