ALEDO, Texas (March 30, 2008)--The final round of the 2008 North Mid Amateur Championship greeted players with sunshine and warmer temperatures on Sunday afternoon at Split Rail Links and Golf Club, but with that came stronger winds. The course played much different for the players in the final round as the winds were out of the south for the first time all week.

Although the sun was behind the clouds for much of the weekend, Rob Couture lit up the course for three days on his way to a 7-under-par total. Couture led wire-to-wire, but had to finish strong on Sunday to earn a one shot victory over a hard-charging Steve Galko.

Galko, of Dallas, shot rounds of 68 and 70 on the weekend, including birdies on the final two holes, to make a run at Couture’s early lead, but fell just short when Couture sank his six foot par putt on the 18th hole. It was a two-man race on Sunday, as Galko was six shots clear of third place. Aaron Hickman, of Tyler, posted his second under par round of the week on Sunday to finish with an even par total. Tied with Hickman for third place was Bill Jackson, who played the weekend in four under par, after opening with 76. Lelan Chiles, of Granbury, fired the low round of the day with a 3-under-par 69 to finish in a tie for fifth place.

Full results from the Split Rail Golf Club follow: