Acton of Sahalee Country Club won the Lobster Pot Professional Championship yesterday with a four-under-par round 67.

By finishing comfortably five strokes ahead of his nearest challengers, the Seattle-based newcomer to the tournament also beat off a formidable field that included last year's winner Kirk Hanefeld of Salem Country Club, who was tied second on 72 with John Nowobilski of Munich Golf Club and Wheeler Stewart of Oakland Country Club.

Acton, after a sluggish start that saw him bogey the first two holes, finished the front nine one-under-par and then saw him overall game improve dramatically to finish up with a three-under-par on the back nine.

"I was happy with the way things turned out after starting off so badly,'' said Acton. "In addition to the bogeys over the first two holes I had to battle against the rain, but I eventually got things turned around.'' Unlike many of the other visiting golfers, Acton is not nearly as familiar with the course after having played on it just a couple of times.

He came here with a few players 18 months ago and played on the course for the first time and when he led his club in the two Pro-Am rounds this week it was his first return since that earlier occasion.

"I have always been amazed by the greens at Castle Harbour but the conditions made it tough out there today until I reached the ninth when the rain stopped,'' said the winner.

"I putted pretty good afterwards although I missed a short putt for par on the 13th. I was fortunate to make a few good birdie putts on the back nine starting out with a shot one-footer on the 10th, a 10-footer on the 12th, a 15-footer on the 17th and then finishing it off with a long 55-footer on the 18th.'' Acton pocketed $1,500 for winning while the three second-place finishers, Nowobilski, Hanefeld and Stewart each won $800. Bucky Henry of Chateau Elan Golf Club received $500 for fifth place with a round of 73.