A golfer arrested in July for bludgeoning another man with a six-iron at an Auburn course was convicted Wednesday of assault with a deadly weapon.

The King County jury took less than one hour to convict Nicholas Shampine of second-degree assault following a week-long trial.

Prosecutors alleged that Shampine, a 33-year-old Puyallup resident, attacked another golfer at the Auburn Golf Course following an argument on the 14th green. According to police reports, the victim's foursome reported Shapmine's group to the course marshal minutes earlier for playing too slowly.

Hostility between the two parties continued to increase, as the golfers began exchanging insults. Witnesses in the victim's party said Shampine charged the victim armed with a club, then stuck him in the head with it.

Members of Shampine's party told police they were trying to golf at the appropriate speed, but were unable to do so because of the foursome in front of them on the course. They complained that the victim's group had been disrupting their play by making noise while golfers were teeing off and were otherwise hostile toward them.

Shampine told officers he was coming to the aid of one of his golfing partners, who was being held by several men in the other foursome.

"I though that my brother was in trouble and, you know, I just, I snapped," Shampine told officers, according to prosecutors. "I just walked towards him, and I just hit him with the club."

The blow Shampine delivered cracked the victim's cheekbone and skull, and bruised the man's brain. The man was hospitalized following the incident.

Shampine is scheduled to be sentenced June 26 in King County Superior Court. He faces 15 to 21 months in prison.

Would hope he learned a lesson,,,,,,,,,,

...yes, use the wedge

KENT -- A Puyallup man who bludgeoned another golfer with a six-iron on the 14th green will be spending 21 months in prison.

Earlier this year, a King County Superior Court jury took less than an hour to convict Nicholas Shampine of second-degree assault following a long trial.

Superior Court Judge Deborah Fleck sentenced Shampine to the maximum term for the crime on Thursday morning at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

Shampine, whose lawyer said is remorseful and not violent, made a tearful apology to James Compton, the man he assaulted. Compton didn't make eye contact with him.

"I wish to God I could take it back," he said.

Shampine said he acted out of impulse and to defend his brother.

"I don't regret coming to the aid of my brother. Using a golf club, it was probably wrong."

Prosecutors asked for 21 months. Shampine's lawyer asked for 12 months.

The incident began one Sunday afternoon last July at the Auburn Golf Course. A foursome that included Compton, his two stepsons and another man called the pro shop to complain about a foursome playing too slowly ahead of them.

That group included Shampine, his father, brother, and a family friend.

Shampine's group reportedly volunteered to let Compton's group play through. But a course staff member said it wouldn't help with several groups in front of them. Shampine's brother, Greg, told the Seattle P-I last year that on the 13th green, someone from Compton's group yelled several times during their friend's backswing.

"They were screwin' with us," Greg Shampine told columnist Jim Moore. "I'm never rude to anybody, but once somebody is rude to me, the gloves are off."

Compton's group was told to "shut the (expletive) up." Their argument continued as the Shampine foursome approached the 15th tee, and Compton's group was on the 14th green.

More words were exchanged, then bad went to worse.

Nicholas Shampine saw what he described as a wrestling match and told Moore two members of Compton's foursome were on both sides of his brother. He said he wanted to protect him.

"I though that my brother was in trouble and, you know, I just, I snapped," prosecutors say Shampine told police. "I just walked towards him, and I just hit him with the club."

The 6-iron was swung with enough force to bend the shaft as it connected with Compton.

Compton, then 45, had a broken cheekbone, skull fracture and a subdural hematoma. He spent time recovering at Harborview Medical Center's intensive-care unit.

Compton and his wife spoke at the sentencing on Thursday. Compton fought back tears as he read a prepared statement. His wife, Randy, asked for the maximum 21-month sentence for Shampine.

"Twenty-one months is nothing compared to what he's done to me and my family," James Compton said. He said he suffers from memory loss and headaches.

Randy Compton said the worst moment for her was before her husband's brain surgery at Harborview. A surgeon met with her but couldn't guarantee that James Compton would survive.