Phil Schmidt is tough to beat these days and once again he held off all challengers to win the Albert Lea City Open Sunday at Green Lea Golf Course.

Schmidt finished with a 27-hole total of 101 to beat Brett Richards by one stroke for the city championship.

Schmidt opened the back nine with a scorching start, birdieing No. 10 and No. 13 and finding an eagle on No. 12 to open a five-shot lead over Richards.

Richards had a chance to tie Schmidt on No. 17 with an eagle try, but missed his putt and Schmidt held a two-shot lead after making a seven.

“Phil’s a tough guy to beat,” Richards said. “You have to birdie a lot of holes to beat that guy.”

Richards did make birdie on 18, but Schmidt made his par putt to claim the championship.

“It was close,” Schmidt said. “It came right down to the wire.”

The win added to Schmidt club championship earlier in the summer and a top-10 finish in the state amateur.

“It all comes down to playing good golf,” Schmidt said. “I made some nice putts and had a few bad holes, but picked myself up with the putter.”

Marti Andersen claimed the women’s championship with a two-stroke victory over Kelli Hanson. Andersen shot 82 to beat Hanson.