The youth movement was evident in the Moore County Men’s Amateur Championship Sunday as 16-year-old Josh Stockwell claimed the title and 17-year-old Cody Roberts earned a share of second place, one stroke back.

Stockwell, a junior at Pinecrest High School and a product of the First Tee of the Sandhills Chapter, shot 68-78—146 to outduel three other players at 147 in the 36-hole event held at Little River Golf and Resort.

According to available records, Stockwell is the youngest player to win the 71-year-old championship.

Joining Roberts at 147 were Rick Lawrence of Pinehurst and 2009 champion William Carter of Laurinburg. Lawrence had the low round of the tournament, opening with a 5-under-par 67 on Saturday, but shot 80 on Sunday.

Card playoffs placed Roberts second, Carter, the men’s golf coach at St. Andrew’s College, third, and Lawrence fourth. Paul Jett of Pinehurst was fifth with 148, and Andrew Gates of Greensboro was sixth with 150.

Although his score was 10 strokes higher on Sunday than in the first round, Stockwell was just happy to bring home the title.

“The course was playing longer, it was a little windy and the pins were set a little tougher,” he said. “But I really didn’t hit the ball quite as well, either.”

Evidence of that was on the scorecard. “I had five birdies and an eagle on No. 3 Saturday,” the champion said. “Today I only had two birdies. I made a lot of good putts in the first round and even made a few today, though. My putting has really improved.

“This is a pretty good feeling right now, having my name on that trophy with some really good players.”

Roberts, a senior at Union Pines High School, was the most consistent of the players in contention, shooting 73-74. But he wasn’t in the pairing with Stockwell and didn’t really know how he was faring as the day progressed.

“I never knew how I stood,” he said, “but I missed a five-foot putt on my next to last hole and that obviously cost me. But I also made a lot of good up-and-downs. The course was playing 600 yards longer for the championship flight today, and I only had two birdies compared with four on Saturday.

“About the only thing I could have done would have been to putt better.”

Gary Pugh of Asheboro and Steve Lassiter shot 74-74—148 to tie for the first flight in the open division, with Pugh winning a card playoff. Henry Cole of Southern Pines was third with 150.

Bill Maczko of Aberdeen won the second flight with 161, followed by Rodney Gorman of Southern Pines with 162 and John Dunlap of Hamlet with 163.

Matt McIntyre of Wagram won the third flight with 172; Matt Ragsdale of Whispering Pines was runner-up with 173; and Michael Molner of Pinehurst was third with 178.

Bob Klug of Pinehurst, who won the overall championship in 1979, claimed the senior division title with 76-74—150.

Rod Brechheisen won a card playoff for second after he and Chuck Taubersmith, both of Pinehurst, had tied with 155.

“This one is even more satisfying,” the 62-year-old Klug said. “I took the game too seriously back then and I enjoy it more now.”

George Shadwick of Foxfire won the senior division second flight with 161. Mark Hollingsworth of Seven Lakes was second with 162.

Bob DePasqua of Aberdeen overcame a five-stroke first-round deficit to win the third flight with 178. Lance Jordan of Vass was second with 179.

Bob Becker of Pinehurst shot 146 to win the gross title in the super senior division’s (65-plus) first flight. George Wirtz of Southern Pines was runner-up with 146 that included a 70 in the first round.

John DeJong of Whispering Pines shot 149 (133) to win the net division.

James Dockery of Southern Pines shot 155 to win the 70-plus division by a stroke over Bob McQueen of Fayetteville. McQueen won the low net title with 138.

Russell French of Pinehurst won the 75-plus division gross with 157. John Messner of Raleigh won net with 142.

“It’s been a long time coming,” the 74-year-old Dockery said of his win. “I’ve come close before, but I held it together this time. Everything just went well and I even made a 40-foot uphill putt for birdie on 13 and shot 33 on the back nine.”

A field of 103 players competed in the event, which is scheduled to be held at Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club in 2013.