HARRISON (New York), June 23: Jonathan Kaye clinched his maiden PGA Tour title at the rain-affected Buick Classic on Sunday, sinking a 12-foot eagle putt at the first extra hole to edge out John Rollins.
Both players had closed with final rounds of four-under-par 67 to complete the regulation 72 holes at 13-under 271.
Joey Sindelar fired a closing 68 to finish third at 11 under while Spaniard Sergio Garcia (69), champion in 2001 when rain forced a Monday finish, tied for fourth a further stroke back alongside Fred Funk, Jay Haas and Skip Kendall.
World number one Tiger Woods, who was bidding for his first title since March, returned a 70 to share 13th place at seven-under 277. World number two Ernie Els carded a 69 to finish joint 12th on 276.
The win, worth $900,000, was Kaye’s first in nine years and came after he birdied the 18th hole to set up the playoff at the Westchester Country Club. Rollins, who earned his first victory last season, birdied the 17th and 18th holes. Kaye started Saturday’s third round four shots behind the leader and played seven holes before rain suspended play for the day.
Leading final round scores:
271 — Jonathan Kaye 70, 66, 68, 67; John Rollins 70, 67, 67, 67 (Kaye won in playoff).
273 — Joey Sindelar 66, 69, 70, 68.
274 — Sergio Garcia (Spain) 70, 69, 66, 69; Fred Funk 71, 70, 64, 69; Jay Haas 74, 68, 67, 65; Skip Kendall 68, 66, 70, 70.
275 — Tom Lehman 71, 70, 68, 66; J.L. Lewis 68, 68, 70, 69; Brad Faxon 69, 67, 74, 65.
276 — Ernie Els (South Africa) 68, 71, 68, 69; Scott Verplank 70, 68, 68, 70.
277 — Brenden Pappas (South Africa) 74, 67, 68, 68; Woody Austin 74, 64, 70, 69; Fred Couples 69, 68, 69, 71; Shaun Micheel 69, 68, 73, 67; Tiger Woods 67, 69, 71, 70.
278 — David Toms 75, 65, 71, 67; Vijay Singh (Fiji) 70, 68, 71, 69; Tom Gillis 71, 65, 70, 72; Retief Goosen (South Africa) 67, 66, 73, 72.—Reuters































