WEST HARTFORD >> Things were not looking too promising for Massachusetts native James Turner (above) at the 87th New England Amateur on Wednesday.

Through 23 holes nearing the midway point of his second round, Turner stood at 5-over-par. “I was 11 (shots) back. I knew I had to start turning things around,” he said.

There was still plenty of time to make up ground. He made four birdies to complete his second round, then shot 3-under 67 in the third round on Thursday to move into contention. The final round Thursday afternoon turned into the best moment of Turner’s young career.

The 18 year old fired a 5-under-65 at The Hartford Golf Club to win the New England Amateur by five strokes over five golfers. Turner finished with a four-round total of 7-under-par 273.

“There are a lot of guys here capable of shooting the same scores I did,” Turner said. “It was just my day. The putts dropped for me.”

Turner was tied with Ryan Tombs with nine holes left. Then Turner went eagle-par-birdie-birdie to move out in front by five strokes.

“With a five-shot lead, I was trying not to make any big numbers coming in,” Turner said.

Two bogeys on his final four holes didn’t matter. Tombs couldn’t keep pace, finishing in that five-way tie for second place that included Zach Zaback, Geoff Vartelas, Bobby Leopold and Matt Paradis.

87th NEW ENGLAND AMATEUR

(at The Hartford GC)

James Turner (Mass.), 73-68-67-65-273; Zach Zaback (TPC River Highlands), 72-71-69-66-278; Geoff Vartelas (Lyman Orchards GC), 68-71-71-68-278; Bobby Leopold (RI), 68-73-69-68-278; Matthew Paradis (NH), 72-68-69-69-278; Ryan Tombs (NH), 72-67-67-72-278; Christopher Gentle (Mass.), 73-67-68-72-280; Davis Chatfield (RI), 71-72-71-67-281; Matt Hutchins (Maine), 69-73-70-69-281; Chet Hrostek (GC at Oxford Greens), 71-69-72-69-281; Brad Valois (RI), 69-67-74-71-281; Max Theodorakis (Ridgewood CC), 69-69-71-72-281; Logan Broyles (VT), 68-69-71-73-281; Garren Poirier (VT), 72-71-70-69-282; John Flaherty (TPC River Highlands), 75-66-71-70-282; Brian Carlson (Clinton CC), 67-76-67-72-282; Matt Parziale (Mass.), 75-69-71-68-283; Peter French (Mass.), 70-72-70-71-283; Monte Mullen (TPC River Highlands), 72-68-71-72-283.

Other state finishers

Rasmey Kong (Eclub of New Haven), 74-70-67-73-284; Brian Ahern (Wampanoag CC), 72-69-69-74-284; Eric Dietrich (The Farms CC), 75-69-71-70-285; Corey Birch (Silver Spring CC), 71-71-70-73-285; Nick Harrington (The GC of Windham), 71-71-70-75-287; Kyle Buschmann (Middlesex Eclub), 69-73-73-73-288; Gabe Van Ness (Clinton CC), 72-72-76-71-291.