Fly Creek's Bruce Miller took the safe approach during the annual Otsego County Amateur Golf Championship last weekend, and it resulted in his second straight championship.

The tournament was played last Saturday and Sunday, with the first round at the Oneonta Country Club and the second round at Leatherstocking Golf Course on Sunday. Miller was tied with Cooperstown's Peter Severud and Oneonta's Steve Torrey was one tied after the first round Saturday, but Miller slowly pulled away on Sunday, eventually taking a six stroke victory with a five-under par total.

"My whole mindset was just to play it safe," Miller, 30, said. "I only went for the flagsticks on the holes where it was an easy shot, and my goal was to play par. I was hitting the ball real well, and my putter was working both days and I ended up shooting under par."

Miller finished with a 5-under-par 139. Former champions Severud (145) and Steve Torrey (146) finished second and third, respectively.

"Miller was steady throughout," tournament spokesman Nick Lambros said. "He was tough to catch."

Miller shot a 69 during Saturday's round, which was played at the par-72 Oneonta Country Club. Seventeen of the 35 entrants failed to shoot 79 or better on Saturday, missing the cut for the second round.

Miller followed with a 70 at par-72 Leatherstocking on Sunday. His score was the lowest of the day by five strokes. Torrey had a 75 at Leatherstocking, where Severud shot a 76.

"Bruce played very steady golf, excellent, steady golf," Leatherstocking pro Dan Spooner said. "He three-putted the 12th hole, but he was really never in any problems or dangerous conditions.

"He hits a shot that has a lot of spin on the ball," Spooner continued. "The greens are a little firm here, but he was able to hold the greens without much of a problem."

Miller, a former member at Leatherstocking, closed Sunday's round at 1-under-par on the back nine. He got his third birdie of the back nine on the 18th hole by sinking a 20-foot putt.

OTSEGO COUNTY AMATEUR

Results of the Otsego County Amateur Golf tournament, a two-day event played at the par-72 Oneonta Country Club on Saturday and at the par-72 Leatherstocking Golf Course on Sunday.

Players' names followed by OCC score, Leatherstocking score and total score.

Bruce Miller 69-70 - 139; Peter Severud 69-76 - 145; Steve Torrey 71-75 - 146; Mike Schulte 73-77 - 150; Matt Brown 75-79 - 154; Frank Vergari 76-79 - 155; Rich Myers 75-81 - 156; Ike Lovelass 75-83 - 158; Gregg Dibble 77-82 - 159; Mike Wilsey 79-81 - 160; Dave Harder 79-81 - 160; Harry Schulte 78-83 - 161; Brian Herring 79-83 - 162; Mitch Milavic 79-84 - 163; Colin Ingham 79-85 - 164; Curt Bailey 77-89 - 166; Jeff Hiscox 76-92 - 168; Kyle Graham 78-98 - 176.