YOUNGSTOWN — Jake Katz, the local darling of last year’s Porter Cup, prevented a fellow Western New Yorker from joining this year’s field by winning the Buffalo District Golf Association men’s match play championship Friday at Niagara Frontier Country Club.

Katz, the defending champion from Williamsville, came back to best Clarence’s Matt Stasiak 2-up after defeating Lewiston’s Nick Morreale 2 and 1 in the morning semifinal.

With only three locals currently in the 53rd Porter Cup field — down from 13 a year ago — tournament director Steve Denn was on hand to grant Friday’s winner an exemption into the prestigious amateur tournament. But after being the 54-hole leader, finishing in the top 10 and drawing a huge gallery last year, Katz had already secured his spot.

Katz, who recently graduated from Binghamton and plans to turn pro at the end of the summer, gave no thought to conceding the match so that his longtime golfing mate could play in the Porter Cup.

“I was just thinking: make birdies,” Katz said.

“I played in the Porter Cup last year and had a blast,” said Stasiak, who beat Roman Luthra 4 and 2 in the semifinals Friday. “I would’ve loved to have won it and had a chance to play, but I can’t do nothing about it.”

Stasiak will have one more chance to secure a spot in the field when he plays in the New York State Amateur Championship in two weeks at Oak Hill. He could possibly be granted a late exemption into the field for the second straight year, though that’s far from guaranteed and several other local players would also be considered, Denn said.

Right now, Buffalo’s Chris Covelli, one of eight players who emerged from last month’s qualifying round, and mid-amateur Kenneth Riter of Williamsville are the only local players in the Porter Cup field. The winner of this weekend’s Niagara Falls Country Club championship will also be exempted into the tournament.

With his mother riding along in the cart and his grandparents following, Katz appeared on his way to an easy win in Friday’s final, going up three after seven holes. But Stasiak started stringing birdies and took the lead on the 13th hole.

“I knew he was going to come back,” Katz said. “He’s a great player.”

Katz regained the lead with a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 16. Both players birdied No. 17. On the final hole, Katz won with a par despite pushing his tee shot into the trees on the left side of the fairway, and putting his second shot in a greenside bunker.

“I was thinking I was screwed,” Katz said.

“The back nine was a blast,” Stasiak said. “It was a great final match.”

Katz is confident he can contend again in the Porter Cup, which runs July 27 through 30 at Niagara Falls CC.

“I’ve played the course more times than anybody in the field, except maybe Fred Silver,” Katz said. “I know where to hit it, where to be aggressive, speed of the greens, I know the rough is going to be thick. And I have some good vibes from last year.”

Contact sports editor Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2264.