EVERSON — Smiles were few and far between for Jon Burnside Sunday afternoon during his final round of golf in the annual Green Hills-Homer Delovich Memorial Golf Championship here at the par-70 Green Hills Country Club.

The 26-year-old former Fairmont State University standout who takes a very business-like approach to the game when he’s on the course, however, flashed a wide one when he walked off the 18th green late Sunday afternoon after going wire-to-wire to claim his first Green Hills Open title by three strokes over Fairmont’s Jim Snider and Morgantown’s Jeff Nehls.

Burnside, who fired a four-under 66 in the first round, shot a four-over 74 Sunday to finish the two-day, 36-hole event with an even-par 140. Nehls, who carded a 69 Saturday, finished with a 74 Sunday to end up at 143. Snider, meanwhile, shot 70 in the first round and tallied a 73 yesterday to also finish with a 143.

“It feels real good to win this event,” said Burnside. “To be real honest I’ve always wanted to win it. I’ve had chances in the past, but just could never get it done.

“Today I was hitting the ball pretty well, but I had three, three-putts on the front nine and was one-over at the turn. When I hit my tee shot out of bounds on 11 I just kept telling myself ‘You’re still in the golf tournament. Just hang in there, make a couple of birdies, make a couple of pars and get to the clubhouse.’ Every year it seems like even-par or right around even-par wins this thing and that was a case again this year. I’m really happy right now.”

Burnside’s round Sunday consisted of three birdies, nine pars, five bogeys and one double-bogey on the par-4 No. 11 hole when, as noted, he hit his tee shot out of bounds. He followed the double bogey with a chip-in birdie on the par-3 12th hole to get one stroke back.

Snider and Nehls both stayed close to Burnside all afternoon, but neither could get over the hump. Snider, who is the city manager of Fairmont, struggled on the front nine Sunday and was four-over for the day at the turn, but played the back nine two-under to finish with his 73.

“It was like boys among men today,” said Snider with a laugh. “In this case I was the boy and those guys were the men. These guys play a lot of golf and I just so happened to start playing fairly well this week. I just kind of ham-and-egged it around and played way over my head this weekend. It was a lot of fun, though. I played with a lot of great guys and a lot of very good golfers.”

Nehls, on the other hand, backed up a tie for fifth-place last year in the event with a tie for second Sunday.

“You know, I didn’t even know I tied for second,” said Nehls. “That’s great. I was just out there playing today and trying not to worry about what anyone was doing but myself.

“I feel like I hit the ball great today. It’s a long course for me because I don’t hit the ball that far. I just tried to keep it in the fairway, hit greens and make some putts. This is a great tournament. This was my second year of playing in it and I’ll be back next year.”

The turning point in the championship flight came on the 13th hole. Fairmont’s Matt Pellillo, who was playing in the foursome in front of Burnside and Uniontown’s Mike Revak, birdied the par-3 12th hole and was one-under for the day and in a three-way tie for the lead with the duo behind him.

Pellillo, however, got in trouble in the bunker on No. 13 and ended up taking a 10 on the par-4 hole to knock himself out of contention.

Burnside, as noted, birdied 12 to re-take the lead alone, while Revak parred it and was one shot back. Revak, who carded an opening-round 68 Saturday, then suffered his own troubles on 13. He seven-putted the par-four hole and also took a 10 to open the door for Burnside. Revak, though, regrouped and played the final five holes one-under to finish fourth with a two-day total of 144.

“I played pretty solid for 35 of the 36 holes this weekend, unfortunately that one hole proved to be pretty costly,” said the 33-year-old Revak. “The error was a physical error and not a mental error and I’m glad it was that. I just kind of chunked my second shot and left it short. My third shot, a chip, was above the hole and I really wasn’t trying to make the putt. I just wanted to cozy it down there and get out of there with a bogey, but unfortunately it went off the green and I ended up going back and forth a few times. I just couldn’t find the hole.

“Still, I had a good time. Jon is an excellent player and a good person. You can tell a lot about someone during a round of golf. He’s a good guy. I had fun playing with him and I’m happy for him. He deserved to win it.”

George White, Jr. finished fifth in the championship flight with a two-day 146, while Pellillo ended up placing sixth with a 148. C.J. Pagliaro and Martin Hall tied for seventh with 149s, while Lloyd Hemmingway, Mark Welton, Micah Morrison and Rush Janes all tied for ninth with 150s.

Dylan Alasky, who was second after an opening round 67, struggled Sunday. He was 11-over after 13 holes and picked up on No. 14.

Scott Pagliaro fired the low-round of the day Sunday. He shot a one-over 71 and won the first flight with a two-day 147. He was followed by Marcus Ondra (150), John Mainella and Justin Goletz, who tied for third (152) and Charlie Brown, who placed fifth with a 153.

Ron Childers’ 154 won the second flight. Bill Capelety and Brad Morris tied for second with 156s, Jaime Colanero finished fourth with a 158 and Joe Gandee and Ryan Korner tied for fifth with 159s.

Paul Harbert claimed the third flight with a 162. Dave Efaw and Paul Tonkin tied for second at 163. Joe Feltz finished fourth with a 164 and Mark Ellis placed fifth with a 168.

Larry Mason’s 172 took top honors in the fourth flight. Jim Howvalt and Sam Snyder tied for second at 175 and Jim Carpenter and Jim Salentro tied for fourth at 176.

Todd Ice won the fifth and final flight with a 187. J.D. Luchuck placed second with a 194.