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If you think you haven't heard much from Jim Renner lately, you haven't been to Maine.

The Plainville pro last week captured the Maine Open, shooting an opening-day 65, followed by a second-day 64 - 13 under par over two rounds - to capture the tournament by three strokes over Massachusetts Open champion Rob Oppenheim and journeyman pro John Elliott.

It was Renner's second win in three years at Riverside Municipal Golf Course in Portland, having won the Portland Open there in 2007.

"I've always got that good memory of being here and winning," he told Justin Pelletier of the Lewiston Sun-Journal. "I've learned how to play this course. It's funny, because there are no real tricks to it."

"There was nothing I could really do," Oppenheim was quoted as saying. "He got off to a great start and all day, there was a small stretch on the back nine, but all day I just couldn't catch back up. That said, he went out and won this thing today. I can't say I went out and lost it, and I think that's important." Renner's play has not been so consistent in recent months. He failed to move on to the second round of the U.S. Open qualifying tournament after capturing medalist honors there a year ago. And he hadn't captured any of the New England state titles as he did a year ago when he was, among other things, Mass. Open champ.

But the Bishop Feehan High School grad and former Attleboro Area Golf Association Open champ simply outran the field in Portland.

On the final day of play on July 1, Renner was 1-under through three before he really got hot. Birdies at holes four through eight - nearly all from the rough off the tee - cemented his lead.

There was a buzz as Renner walked past the clubhouse at the turn. He was 6-under through nine holes.

And he birdied the 10th.

But Oppenheim missed an eagle chance on that same hole, and with it, perhaps missed his best chance to get into Renner's head.

"That would have been nice," Oppenheim said. "I couldn't really get any momentum going."

"He's playing about an consistently as anyone out there right now," Renner said of Oppenheim. "It takes good golf to beat him, and he had a great round today."

Signup reminderThere's not much time left to sign up for the AAGA Open qualifying tournament. If you're interested, go to local courses for applications or visit www.myaaga.com and download the form. The form and the $40 fee are due by Friday, July 24.

The qualifier will be held on Friday, July 31, at Heather Hill Country Club in Plainville with the first players teeing off at 7 a.m. Meanwhile, the AAGA Junior Championship will be held Monday and the AAGA Women's Championship will be the following Monday, both at Highland Country Club in Attleboro. The deadline to enter the junior event has passed, while women have until Friday to sign up for the latter event.

Another reminderIf you or someone you know has made a hole-in-one recently, send the information to me and I'll inform our readers, because everyone wants to know who's buying. My phone number and e-mail address are below.

Play well.

MIKE KIRBY writes an occasional column on golf. He can be reached at 508-236-0344 or at mkirby@thesunchronicle.com.