Richmond, TX (Sports Network) - Randal Lewis earned his first USGA Championship by defeating Kenny Cook 3 & 2 in Thursday's 36-hole final of the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship.

With the victory, Lewis, 54, became the oldest winner ever at this championship. Lewis beat defending champion and three-time winner Nathan Smith to reach the finals at Shadow Hawk Golf Club.

Lewis, the 1996 runner-up, won the first two holes with a birdie and a par. Cook fought back to square the match with a birdie on No. 14 and a par on the 15th. Cook tripped to a bogey on the 16th to fall 1-down.

It was all Lewis from there. He won the 18th with a par to take a 2-up lead into the second 18.

Three times on the third nine Cook got within 1-down, but Lewis answered each time. At the par-five ninth, Lewis made birdie to go 2-up. Cook never got closer than that.

"It's unbelievable," Lewis said. "I mean, to win at this age, especially in the heat -- that was one of my bigger concerns coming down here. Being from Michigan, we're used to temperatures -- well, this time of year -- in the 60s."

Lewis claimed the 11th and 13th to push his advantage to 4-up. Cook got it back to 3-down with a birdie on the 14th, but the duo matched pars on the next two holes to give Lewis the title.

09/22 22:51:04 ET