For the past three years, the best amateur golfers in the area have taken their shot at Jordan Johnstun in the Augusta City Amateur.

They all left shaking their heads at the play of the left-hander from Evans.

Johnstun won his record third consecutive city amateur title Sunday at Forest Hills, turning back teenager Brant Patton and 20-year-old Lance Johnson.

"I felt like I had everyone gunning for me. To come out on top feels pretty good," said the 22-year-old Johnstun, a former Georgia Southern golfer.

Johnstun started the day with a two-shot lead, and that's how it ended. He closed with 3-under-par 69 to finish at 9-under 207.

Patton, a 17-year-old rising senior at Lakeside, had the low round of the tournament with 66 to tie for second with Johnson, who had 68.

No one in the history of this tournament, which started in 1979, had won it three times in a row. Only Johnstun and Tommy Carlton (1979-80) had won it in back-to-back years.

"It's pretty awesome, I guess," said Johnstun, who won't have the opportunity to make it four in a row. He's turning pro in February after he finishes his final class at Georgia Southern.

Johnstun also holds the tournament record of 14-under 202, set last year.

"I didn't play as well as last year, but I hit the shots when I need to," said Johnstun, whose winning score was five shots higher than last year.

For the 54 holes, Johnston had 14 birdies and five bogeys while shooting 71-67-69.

"He didn't hit any real bad shots," said Johnson, one of his playing partners Sunday. "His misses were not that far off line."

Patton, who had two eagles and two birdies in his 66, has played with Johnstun in the past.

"He's a great player," he said.

Johnstun considered not defending his title after shooting 73-82 in the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship early last week and failing to make match play. After a pep talk from his father, Rayne, Johnstun signed up the day before the city amateur started.

"He's pretty much the reason I played. After he put some positive thoughts in my mind, I told myself I could do it again," Johnstun said.

Sunday was a day for repeat winners. Earlier, Greg Scurlock successfully defended his senior division title while setting a tournament record for the 50-over set at Forest Hills.

Scurlock, 60, went wire-to-wire and won by eights shots over Rob Bissell (75 on Sunday).

Scurlock's closing 68 brought him home at 12-under 204 and broke the senior division record Bob Varn set in 2007 by one shot. Scurlock opened with 67-69.

"I thought that record would stand," said Varn, who tied for seventh place Sunday. "They had the course set up a little easier, and the condition was so much better than it's ever been. That's still great playing. He did it three days in a row; that's hard to do."

Scurlock had 19 birdies, including seven in the final round. He's recently incorporated a move from Ben Hogan's swing.

"I can't tell you what it is," he said. "All I can say is it's working great."

A semi-regular on the Regions Cup circuit, Scurlock has won three of the past four events he's played.

"A 60-year-old sure whipped our butts, I'll tell you that," said Bissell, 51, who played with Scurlock in the final two rounds.

Reach David Westin at (706) 724-0851 or david.westin@augustachronicle.com.