TYNGSBORO -- Through all his 27 previous attempts to win the Lowell City Golf Tournament, George Popp never seemed to age.

He retained his youthful looks, his boyish enthusiasm, his ready smile.

But Popp at age 52 is not quite as robust off the tee as he once was. Years ago he might have been more gung-ho to reach the green in two on Vesper's par-5 18th were he in need of a birdie to win that elusive Cities title.

But with darkness creeping in on a long, hot finale to the 89th Cities on Wednesday, Popp played the 526-yard 18th like an old pro.

His precise second shot left Popp in the middle of the fairway, 70 yards from the pin. From there, this former UMass Lowell hockey player wearing his River Hawks cap hit a 60-degree wedge to three feet from the hole.

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