No lead is safe with Aaron Nick­erson staring you down.

The River Hills golfer captured his second NSGA Mid-Amateur championship with a dramatic finish during Sunday’s final round at Berwick Heights.

Nickerson trailed Ashburn’s Glenn Robinson by four strokes with five holes to play and was down two heading to the 17th tee. But the 42-year-old from Clark’s Harbour birdied the final two holes and Robinson carded a bogey on the par-5 18th as Nick­erson won the rain-shortened MCT Mid-Amateur by one shot.

“It was a strange turn of events," said a bewildered Nick­erson, who also won the Mid-Am event in 2008.

“Down four with five to play, I figured my hopes were squished. The first 15 holes, Glenn was playing flawless. But I kept plug­ging away."

As they walked off the 13th green, Robinson — with 11 pars and birdies on Nos. 7 and 10 — held a four-stroke lead over Nick­erson. But bogeys on 14 and 16 cut Robinson’s advantage to two. On both 17 and 18, Nickerson landed his approach shot to within 2 ½ feet of the pin setting up his birdie putts. Robinson misfired on his approach on 18 and finished with a 6.

“I looked at the holes ahead of me and figured I only had what I thought would be a couple real­istic chances at birdie," said Nickerson, who dedicated the win to former River Hills’ pro Richard Broughm, one of his instructors as a junior.

“I got a good drive out to the 100 (yard marker) on 17 and hit a nice wedge to 2 ½ feet (of the pin). On 18, I came over my drive a bit and hit it left. I was 230 yards out, slightly uphill and I absolutely purified my 3-hybrid.

I scooped my chip from the fringe to about 2 ½ feet but it was the longest 2 ½ feet of my life.

“Glenn made a bad swing on his approach and right then I realized I got a chance to pull this off. (Forget) the playoff, I can win it outright. But it happened so fast, I couldn’t believe it."

Nickerson fired an even-par 72 Sunday to finish 2-under (142) for the tourna­ment, which was shortened to 36 holes after Saturday’s second round was can­celled because of inclement weather.

Robinson shot a final-round 73 and was 1-under over the two rounds.

Nickerson, Robinson and Brightwood’s Steven Spicer entered the day with a share of the lead following opening rounds of 2-under 70 on Friday.

While thrilled with the victory, Nicker­son was bittersweet in beating his playing partner. Robinson is still seeking his first provincial title despite coming close on numerous occasions. The 39-year-old has finished in the top 10 in each of the six Mid-Ams he has entered since he became eligible for the tournament in 2007. He was also a runner-up at the 2010 Nova Scotia Amateur.

“It felt good to win but Glenn and I are really good friends and I knew how badly he wanted it. That’s the part that’s bitter," said Nickerson, also a member at West Pubnico.

“Anyone else, it probably wouldn’t have hurt as much. Glenn’s one of the top play­ers in the province and he was great for all but three holes. And it was only one bad shot on each of those holes that did him in."

Spicer (74–144) and Oakfield’s Chris Topshee (74–144) finished in a tie for third. Granite Springs’ Kenny Walsh (73-146) and Jeff Hovell (74-146) rounded out the top five.

Nickerson, Robinson and Topshee will make up the provincial Mid–Amateur team at nationals in September. Topshee defeated Spicer on the first playoff hole to earn the third spot on the team. Spicer will be the alternate.

The 2012 Canadian Mid-Amateur cham­pionship will take place Sept. 4-7 at the Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Van­couver.

(gmacdonald@herald.ca)