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Steamboat Springs — After winning two regional junior tournaments in a little more than a week, Houston-based golfer Chris Lauinger wasn't too sure about his chances of finding the same success at the Haymaker Junior Championships.

"I was plus seven through the first eight holes," Lauinger said. "I wasn't playing that well, and I thought that I might be in trouble."

But birdies on No. 9 and No. 13, both par fives, gave Lauinger some hope as he headed toward the clubhouse. He managed to par the last hole to finish at 79 and keep his hopes for a third title alive.

"I wasn't too sure where the other guys were, but I thought I might have a chance," Lauinger said.

Skyler Martin, the only golfer left on the Haymaker course with a chance to catch Lauinger, just missed a birdie attempt on his final hole that would have forced a playoff.

The finish meant that Lauinger picked up his third title in a little over a week, including wins at the Yampa River Junior Classic at the Yampa Valley Golf Club in Craig on July 28, the Cowboy Shootout at the Steamboat Golf Club on July 29 and the Haymaker Junior Championships on Tuesday.

"This tournament puts the bookends on our instructional programs," said Luke Brosterhous, junior program director at the Haymaker. "It's a pretty low-key event, but it's a nice way to wrap up our junior programs."

Lauinger fired a 79 to win the 14- to 18-year-old division at the championships. He was one stroke better than Skyler Martin, who finished second with an 80, and Shaq Torrella, who was third at 85.

The title for the 11- and 13-year-old golfers went to another out-of-town golfer. Alex Pines shot a 41 to take the title in that group in another tight contest.

When Pines learned that his family would be vacationing in Steamboat Springs this week, the first thing he did was jump on the Internet to find out when the Haymaker Championships were scheduled to take place.

"I played in this tournament two years ago and finished third," Pines said. "It was just a lot of fun."

"I started off pretty well," Pines said about his effort Tuesday. "I didn't focus on my score; I just tried to make pars and not make any double bogies."

The plan paid off as Pines avoided trouble for most of the round.

"I doubled one hole," Pines said.

Jake Lauinger, Chris' younger brother, kept the pressure on most of the round. He finished second at 42. Luke Dennahy was third at 46.

Fischer Matthew was first in the 9- and 10-year-old division with a nine-hole round of 47. Charlie Smith was second at 55 and McKenyon King was third with a round of 73.

The juniors will have one more chance to play for titles this weekend during the annual parent-junior tournament. That tournament is scheduled to start with a 1 p.m. lunch with the first golfers hitting the course at 2 p.m. Sunday.