MARION, Iowa- Mark Blakefield never took his foot off of the gas, that’s for sure.

The University of Kentucky grad, who has played in seven Web.com Tour events in his career, tied for the low round of the day with a 6-under-par 66 Saturday and blew away his competition to win the 16th annual Greater Cedar Rapids Open at Hunters Ridge Golf Course.

Blakefield’s tournament-total 18-under-par 198 was just one off the event record of 19 under set by Garrett Jones of Rewey, Wisconsin in 2012.

Blakefield, who cashes a $20,000 first-place check with the win in his first GCRO appearance, held a two-shot lead heading into the final round over Chris Naegel of Chesterfield, Mo., and three over Justin Hueber of Ft. Wayne, Ind. Those three were in the final group and Blakefield was always in charge.

Neither Naegel nor Hueber put any pressure on the burly Blakefield. Naegel bogeyed the first hole and then flew his second shot on the short-playing par-5 second hole over the green and took a double bogey to fall to 7 under par. When Blakefield birdied the second his lead over Naegel was six and it only grew from there.

Hueber, who made a gallant charge at the title last year in the final round only to fall one stroke short of Chris Baker, fell four back after two. He bogeyed the par-3 fourth and was five back. He was within four of Blakefield after the leader bogeyed the par-5 sixth hole, but two Blakefield birdies and a Hueber bogey on No. 9 left the advantage at seven and it was game, set and match.

Blakefield birdied three of his last four holes to make it a real rout. Naegel and Hueber both shot 3-over-par 75s. Naegel tied for seventh and Hueber was 10th.

Blakefield, who won $55,000 at the 2013 Waterloo Open, finished nine shots in front of runners-up Jonathan Moore (Stillwater, Oklahoma), Zack Byrd (Murrells Inlet, South Carolina) and Justin Byrd (St. Louis, Missouri), who were all at 9-under 207.

Moore also had a 66 on the day, Byrd a 4-under 68 and Bryant, who was just four down entering the day, lost ground to Blakefield despite a 1-under 71. All three were also making their GCRO debuts.

Hampton Ballard (Bradenton, Florida) and Jhred Hack (Sanford, Florida) tied for fifth at 8 under par. Both had 69s Saturday.

In the Senior division, Gary Mortara Sr. of San Leandro, California held off GCRO co-founder Mark Lemon by a shot to win that title. Lemon, five down entering the day, fired an even-par 72. Mortara had a 4-over 76.

In the Amateur division, Michael Peter of Florence, Alabama shot a 3-under 69 and beat local favorite Ryan Schrimper by two shots. Schrimper shot a respectable 1-under 71.

For additional coverage, read The Gazette’s story at http://thegazette.com/subject/sports/hed-xyxyxyxyx-20140726.