EXETER – The impressive 30-footer came crisply off Joe Carroll’s putter, scaled a short hill, then took a slight turn before disappearing into the hole.

If there was any suspense left in the 71st annual John M. Allan Invitational June 25 at Fox Hill Country Club, Carroll’s birdie at 16 essentially ended it.

One of four birdies by Carroll and partner Pat Mitchell on the final nine, it punctuated a dominating effort that at last made the team champions of the Allen with a 12-under-par, 235 for a five-stroke win over 63 holes of medal play.

“I grew up watching the Allan,” said Carroll, who golfed at the former Seton Catholic High School. “It’s what got me interested in golf when I was a little kid.

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“It’s a dream come true for me.”

There was a time it gave him nightmares.

During their first season partnering in the Allan Tourney, Mitchell and Carroll lost an agonizing 21-hole match to 2015 champions Mark Answini and Greg Mascioli — when darkness forced the foursome to return to Fox Hill another day to decide a champion.

“It was a tough loss,” Carroll said.

Carroll and Mitchell could smile about it now, after securing the title rather comfortably.

With the 20-team championship flight field trimmed to the top 11 after Sunday’s first 18 holes, they took a three-stroke lead into the nine more holes that were played on the back nine of newly renovated layout. They boosted that advantage when Carroll made birdies on 12, 14 and, most impressively, 16.

The putt left the tandem with an insurmountable six-stroke lead over the co-runner-up team of Bill Burke and Christian Davis with two holes to play, and pretty much guaranteed Carroll and Mitchell a title.

Friends since golfing against each other in high school when Mitchell was at West Scranton, they had golfed in other area tournaments together, but only began partnering at the Allan two years ago.

The third time was a charm.

Saturday’s birdie barrage, during which they shot the weekend’s best round with a 6-under-par, 65 to move from up from 10th place, put Carroll-Mitchell in the lead.

Burke-Davis shared second place with Rick Laneski-Eric Plisko, the first day tri-leaders who were one of three teams to shoot 2-under, 32 over the final nine holes.

Brenden Carroll-Mariano Medico also closed with a 32 to finish fourth with 241.

Ed Hennigan-Corey Palma, who also shared first place in opening day qualifying, and John Mikiewicz-Tom Biscotti, who ended the second day alone in second one stroke out of the lead, tied for fifth with 244s.

Others to make the cut for the final nine were Michael Answini-Shamus Gartley, 245; Robert Santarelli-Steve Hudacek, 245; John Mulhern-Zach Mulhern, 247; Paul Keating-Connor McNicholas, 248; Jamie Anzalone-William Musto, 248.

The rest of the field was separated into 14 flights of six teams each that were decided by round-robin, match-play competition. The teams, which did not pursue the championship flight, were separated by flight according to handicap prior to the start of the tournament.

The winners of those flights were First, Joe Mantione-Jim Hoover; Second, Joe Angelella-Randy Marcotte; Third, Frank Berman-Rich Petrillo; Fourth, Bob Donovan-Spencer Williams; Fifth, Derek Zambino-Pat Son; Sixth, Fred Lombardo-Fred Lombardo Sr.; Seventh, Gary Peters-Peter Pitarra; Eighth, Steve Selenski-Joe Coleman; Ninth, Joe Ashley-Joe Biago; 10th, Tom Burke-Patrick Burke; 11th, William Anzalone-William Anzalone Jr.; 12th, Joe Joyce-Aidan Joyce; 13th, Frank Lombardo-Freddie Lombardo; 14th, Gerald Gibbons-Brett Gibbons.

The 14 flight winners participated in two shootout groups of seven teams each, eliminating teams until there was one left in each group. The Joyces then defeated Mantione-Hoover to win the shootout.

Bill Burke focuses on the hole during a bird attempt on No. 15.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_Allan-Golf-Tourney-Final-2_CMYK.jpg.optimal.jpgBill Burke focuses on the hole during a bird attempt on No. 15. Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch

Pat Mitchell digs his way out of a bunker on the final hole at the John A. Allan Golf Tournament.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_Allan-Golf-Tourney-Final-3_CMYK.jpg.optimal.jpgPat Mitchell digs his way out of a bunker on the final hole at the John A. Allan Golf Tournament. Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch

Joe Carroll busts out of a sand trap on No. 18.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_Allan-Golf-Tourney-Final-4_CMYK.jpg.optimal.jpgJoe Carroll busts out of a sand trap on No. 18. Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch

The 2017 John A. Allan Golf champions Pat Mitchell, left, and Joe Carroll embrace after running away with the tournament in the later holes.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_Allan-Golf-Tourney-Final-5_CMYK.jpg.optimal.jpgThe 2017 John A. Allan Golf champions Pat Mitchell, left, and Joe Carroll embrace after running away with the tournament in the later holes. Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch

Christian Davis hits his tee shot on No. 16. He and partner Bill Burke were in the final Champion Flight group against Joe Carroll and Pat Mitchell at the John A. Allan Golf Tournament on Sunday.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_Allan-Golf-Tourney-Final-1_CMYK.jpg.optimal.jpgChristian Davis hits his tee shot on No. 16. He and partner Bill Burke were in the final Champion Flight group against Joe Carroll and Pat Mitchell at the John A. Allan Golf Tournament on Sunday. Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Duo grabs Allan Tournament victory in third attempt

By PAUL SOKOLOSKI

psokolowski@timesleader.com

and TOM ROBINSON

For Sunday Dispatch

Reach the Sunday Dispatch newsroom at 570-655-1418 or by email at sd@s24530.p831.sites.pressdns.com.