David Wettlaufer kept it together while others around him unravelled to capture a maiden Gosling’s Invitational title at the fifth attempt at Port Royal yesterday.

The former Canadian Tour and European Senior Tour player withstood the blustery conditions and the charging Zack Byrd to claim the $12,000 winner’s purse.

Wettlaufer tapped in for par at the final hole to finish at three-under 279, which left him three shots clear of nearest rival and multiple winner Kirk Hanefeld. Byrd, who pushed Wettlaufer hard before a meltdown at the 15th, finished third two shots adrift of Hanefeld, who finished runner-up for the second successive year.

“I had to hang in there today, the conditions were tough,” said Wettlaufer, whose final round included three birdies and six bogeys.

“The water holes were really difficult. I made some bogeys but I had enough of a cushion to bring it home.

“I just tried to hang in and not make a big number. Sometimes a bogey is like par, so I just tried to avoid the big numbers, accept the bogeys and move on.”

Wettlaufer started the final round with a two-shot advantage over American Hanefeld, which he maintained at the turn after playing the front at even par.

The defining moment of his round unfolded at the par-four 11th where he produced a remarkable recovery that enabled him to solidify his lead.

The Canadian was left with a lot to do after his tee shot landed in the trees off of the right side of the fairway.

Wettlaufer’s second shot with a wedge from 175 yards left him with a 15-foot birdie putt, which he rolled in with laser-like precision to stretch his lead to four shots after Hanefeld and Byrd both made bogey.

“That was the real turning point,” Wettlaufer said. “That shot gave me some momentum because all of a sudden it was a two-shot swing with both of them.”

The leader stalled after dropping shots at the 13th and 14th holes. American Byrd took advantage by making three successive pars to move ahead of a fading Hanefeld into second and cut Wettlaufer’s lead to three shots with four holes to play.

However, that would be as close as Byrd would get to the leader as his late charge ended at the par-four 15th where he carded a quintuple bogey as the strong wind took its toll.

“It’s not often I walk off a hole and I have to figure out what I made by counting the shots,” Byrd said.

Wettlaufer bogeyed the 15th but still managed to increase his lead by five shots after Hanefeld made a double bogey.

“The conditions were tough, the wind had to be blowing 25-30, especially on the back nine,” said Hanefeld, who earned $7,500 for finishing second. “Those holes coming in all played hard.”

Wettlaufer dropped another shot at the penultimate hole after his long par putt came up short. But it really did not matter as the damage had already been done.

“Every time they made a bogey it was tough for them to fight back because of the shots I had,” Wettlaufer said. “They had to play perfect golf and hope I faltered a bit.

“Zack was playing really well. He was three under after nine holes and putting a little heat on me before he had that big number on 15 unfortunately.”

Byrd capped an impressive tournament debut by rolling in his fourth birdie of the round at the 18th which earned him a $5,650 payday for finishing third outright. Daniel Augustus was the top local professional and 15th overall at 14-over-par 296.

Bermuda’s Damian Palanyandi won the amateur title by a commanding 17 shots while compatriot Hav Trott captured the senior title by nine shots.

Former winner Joe Horowitz and Dennis Hendershot shot yesterday’s lowest round of one-over-par 72.