LUMBERTON — When the small army of 20 golf carts drove up the 18th fairway, Kyle Covington was closing in on his fifth consecutive county golf title.

The seven-time champion wrapped up his victory by sinking a par putt on the final hole, putting the finishing touches on a hard-fought victory in the 30th annual Jerry Johnson Chevrolet Robeson County Golf Championship over his two playing partners, Mark Lassiter and Dyrck Fanning.

When the final group of Covington, Lassiter and Fanning teed off to start Sunday's round, Covington had a one shot lead for the tournament. However Covington bogeyed the par-3 second hole, falling back to the pack and setting up a sprint to the finish.

After Covington tripped up on No. 2, Lassiter saw an opening.

"I had a good round, I played solid," Lassiter said. "I chipped in on seven, gained a little momentum. Hit my second shot on eight to four feet, made the putt for eagle."

Covington responded with four straight birdies to take the lead for good.

"What do you do? Kyle birdies six, seven, eight and nine. When he got in trouble today, he made par," Lassiter said. "I knew standing on 17 tee that I had to birdie 17 and 18 to have a chance. I gave it my best shot, (Kyle's) just a heck of a player.

"I had 67 in mind, I felt like if I could shoot that I could maybe tie. I felt like I had some opportunities but man (Kyle) made every putt he looked at."

Lassiter put the pressure on Covington on the front nine, shooting a 33. Lassiter then lost a shot with a bogey on No. 14, and finished with a 35 on the back nine giving him a 4-under-par 68 on the day. He was 6 under for the tournament, and tied with Fanning for second with a total of 210.

Covington said Fanning and Lassiter made him earn this year's victory.

"I got to the turn at 4-under par and nothing's changed. You expect somebody to fall off, especially if you post a 32, but nobody did. It's fun," Covington said. "You don't want to see anybody playing bad, especially either one of them.

"I tell you what I'm more happy for Mark than I am for myself, he played well. Especially his first time in a final group here. I mean 68 is good. I think there were two bogeys all day in our group. If you had told me that when we teed off I wouldn't have believed you."

Fanning, who fired a bogey-free round, said he couldn't capitalize on his opportunities.

"Before I teed off I would have taken no bogeys and a 68," Fanning said. "I had some chances, I missed some putts. Couldn't get it in the fairway off the tee on the front nine."

Fanning shot a 34 on the front and back nine, finishing the day at a 4-under-par 68. His three-day total of 210 was good for 6-under-par and a tie for second.

With Covington winning six in a row, the five-time champion Fanning thinks his chances might be running out to win another Championship Division title.

"My days are running out, maybe we can break his knees or something," Fanning said. "But seriously, Kyle is a great competitor and an absolute gentleman on the golf course. He deserves it. To get three guys out there to compete at that level on a Sunday was unbelievable, it was so much fun. My hat's off to Kyle."

Regular Division

Warner Hall needed four playoff holes to defeat John Haskins to claim the championship. Hall shot 71 on Saturday and 74 on Sunday. Haskins shot 70 on Saturday and 75 on Sunday to bring each of their totals to a 1-over-par 145.

Ladies Division

Carmen McQueen-Lockear claimed a 2-stroke victory over past champion Stephanie Miller to take the title. McQueen-Locklear fired a 79 on Saturday, followed by an 87 on Sunday. Miller finished with an 83 and an 85 for a two-day total of 168.

Senior Division

Truman Lowery became the champion after defeating Ron Jones by one stroke. Lowery and Jones each shot a 76 on Saturday, but Lowery's 74 on Sunday was just enough to get past Jones' 75 and capture the title.