Virginia Beach’s Brinson Paolini has done it.

With a hard-fought, see-saw, 1 up victory over Falls Church’s Mike Kirby in the 36-hole final at Belle Haven, Paolini has become the first player to win three straight Virginia Amateur championships.

The Virginia Am has an impressive list of champions, including past and current PGA Tour players Lanny Wadkins, Bobby Wadkins, Curtis Strange, John Rollins, and Steve Marino. But none won more than two state amateur titles.

Paolini, a sophomore this fall at Duke, didn’t lose any of the first 15 holes and had a 3 up lead through 21. But Kirby, a former George Mason University standout and now a budget analyst for the government, made four straight birdies to change the match. When Kirby made a birdie at No. 10, his fifth in a span of seven hole, he had a 2 up lead.

But Paolini, the ACC Freshman of the Year, demonstrated his championship pedigree, as he won four of five holes, including two with birdies, to regain control. When he bogeyed No. 17, it kept the match alive for one more hole. He wrapped up the tournament with a par on No. 18.

Paolini won without his best stuff. He shot a 77 in the morning round and 71 in the afternoon.