Players say the toughest part of a match-play tournament is qualifying.

David Nocar of Chartwell Country Club, faced with the burden of playing in the spotlight at his home course, found that out when he was 4-over-par after eight holes in Thursday's rainy qualifying round for the 81st annual Maryland State Amateur championship. He recovered, however, to beat the playoff number by a single stroke with 75.

Once in match play on a course he knew, Nocar was more confident and peaked yesterday with a 3 and 2 triumph over Andy Williams of Congressional CC to win the title in a scheduled 36-hole final.

Nocar, 40, extended his streak of not having lost an individual match on his home course since his junior years. Included are the 10 club championships he has played in the past 14 years.

"This as big as it gets for me," Nocar said. "I have played in U.S. and British amateurs, but had no chance to win them. Actually, I had been playing well coming into this event several times in the past, but always caught someone on a hot streak."

Nocar set up his victory over the back nine in the morning, using superb ball-striking for five birdies in going from level to 3-up. Williams won the first hole in the afternoon, but after Nocar converted a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 7, his lead did not dip below three thereafter.

"After that start, I was fortunate to advance in the first place," Nocar said. "By the final - that was the best I've hit the ball."

Nocar's morning-round 68 featured seven birdies - three conceded - and 29 putts. His drives were in the 275- to 300-yard range; Williams relied on 3-woods and 1-irons off the tees.

"I gave up distance, but I kept it in play and hit it where I wanted to," Williams, 29, said. "When I hit to 6 inches at the first hole in the afternoon, it kind of kick-started me, but then I had some putts that didn't drop.

"Dave didn't make any mistakes, and he made every shot he had to."