Alcott Wins Playoff After Sheehan Falters

Amy Alcott said she had a feeling all week it was her time to win, but it took a late collapse by Patty Sheehan to allow it.

After Sheehan blew a three-shot lead with three holes remaining, Alcott knocked in a two-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff Sunday and won the $200,000 LPGA Nestle’s World Championship of Women’s Golf at Buford, Ga.

“I had a good feeling coming in here this week,” Alcott said. “I can’t explain it. You have to play into it, let it unfold, let it happen.

“I was smart enough to let myself play.”

Both players birdied the first hole of the playoff before Alcott hit her tee shot on the par-3 17th only two feet from the cup.

Sheehan hit her tee shot 25 feet from the hole and her birdie putt failed. Alcott knocked in her two-foot putt to claim the $65,000 first prize. Sheehan got $35,000.

Both players finished 72 holes of regulation at 274, 14 shots under par on the 6,007-yard Stouffer’s Pine Isle Resort golf course.

Nancy Lopez finished out of the top four for the first time in nine events as the defending champion shot a 280 to finish in fifth place.

Beth Daniel, who had started the day in a three-way tie for the lead with Sheehan and Alcott, struggled to a 73 and tied for third place at 278 with Pat Bradley, who had a 71.

Ken Green, ending four years of frustration on the PGA Tour, put on a tremendous charge over the last nine holes to win the Buick Open at Grand Blanc, Mich.

Green shot a tournament-record 20-under-par 268 for his first PGA victory.

Green, who led at 15-under after three rounds, shot a five-under 67 to finish four shots ahead of a faltering Wayne Grady, who held a two-stroke lead over Green after the front nine holes.

Green’s score bettered the old Buick Open mark of 17-under 271, set last year by Denis Watson on the 7,014-yard, par-72 course at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club. Green’s victory was worth $81,000, plus the use of a car for a year.

Australia’s Peter Thomson set a Seniors Tour record by winning his seventh tournament of the year with a final-round 69 in the $225,000 du Maurier championship at Coquitlam, Canada.

His 54-hole total of 203 over the Vancouver Golf Club course gave him a one-stroke victory over Ben Smith, who also shot a final-round 69.

Thomson’s victory broke the record of six Senior Tour wins set in 1983 by Don January. Thomson now has won $296,534 in 1985.

Lee Elder finished third with a 69 for 205, while second-round leader Jim Ferree slipped to fourth place at 206 after a disastrous four-over 76.