Browne’s Chip-In Wins Playoff

Moments after winning his first PGA Tour title, Olin Browne recalled one of golf’s most memorable shots--Larry Mize’s 140-foot chip-in to win the 1987 Masters in a playoff.

“That’s the greatest shot I ever saw,” Browne said.

But on Sunday, it was Browne’s birdie chip-in from 40 feet that defeated Mize and defending champion Stewart Cink on the first playoff hole of the Canon Greater Hartford Open at Cromwell, Conn.

Browne’s approach shot on the 444-yard, par-four 18th, which was used as the playoff hole, rolled across the green and into the left fringe about pin high. Mize reached the green in three and could only watch. Cink had an opportunity to tie but his 15-foot birdie putt rolled wide.

The playoff followed the stunning collapse of Mize, who had a four-stroke lead going to the 15th hole after stringing together birdies on Nos. 11-14 to stand at 18 under par. But on the par-four, 296-yard 15th, he shanked a five-iron deep into the woods and, after several minutes of searching, found his unplayable ball and had to tee it up again. He took a double bogey on that hole and missed a one-foot par putt on No. 16. By the time he reached the final hole, Mize was clinging to a one-stroke lead over Browne and Cink. He then narrowly missed a 15-foot par putt and finished in a tie with Browne and Cink at 14-under 266, a 72-hole record for the tournament.

*

There was no playoff at the State Farm Senior Classic in Columbia, Md., because Bruce Summerhays made a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win it.

Summerhays, who started the day three strokes off the pace, shot a final-round 69 for a 10-under-par 206 total and a one-shot victory over Hale Irwin and Walter Hall.

On the 381-yard 17th, Summerhays’ tee shot landed in a sand-filled divot. But he hit an eight-iron within 27 feet and two-putted to save par.

*

All David Carter needed was a bogey on the first playoff hole to deny Colin Montgomerie a third straight Irish Open title at Dublin.

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Golf at a Glance

LPGA

U.S. Women’s Open

1. * Se Ri Pak, $267,500 +6

1. * a-Jenny Chuasiriporn+6

3. Liselotte Neumann, $157,500+7

* 18-hole playoff today

a-amateur

PGA

Greater Hartford Open

1. x-Olin Browne, $360,000-14

2. Stewart Cink, $176,000-14

2. Larry Mize, $176,000-14

x-Won on first playoff hole

SENIOR PGA

State Farm Classic

1. Bruce Summerhays, $187,000-10

2. Hale Irwin, $100,000-9

2. Walter Hall, $100,000-9