J.L. Lewis Gets First Win in Playoff

L.A. Times Archives

July 26, 1999 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

J.L. Lewis birdied the fifth playoff hole to beat Mike Brisky and win his first PGA Tour title Sunday in the John Deere Classic at Coal Valley, Ill.

Lewis got into the playoff after hitting a wedge to within four feet at the 18th hole and making the birdie putt for a closing 65. Brisky, who also shot a 65, and Lewis completed 72 holes at 19-under-par 261 at the 6,762-yard Oakwood Country Club course.

Both players made pars on the first playoff hole, the 18th, birdies at the 16th and pars at the 17th as the playoff continued. Lewis appeared to have the tournament won when he holed a sand shot at the par-four 16th for a birdie, only to have Brisky drop his own 12-footer for a tying birdie. Both birdied the 18th with makable putts, sending the playoff back to the 16th hole a second time.

Lewis drove into the left rough, but hit a sand wedge some four feet above the hole. Brisky drove down the middle, but his second shot was about 25 feet left of the pin. Brisky missed his birdie attempt and Lewis knocked in his winning putt.

Afterward, both players felt like winners. “I wouldn’t have felt like I lost [had Brisky won],” Lewis said after earning $360,000.

“I’m not disappointed in the least,” said Brisky, who pocketed $216,000.

In regulation, Brisky had a two-shot lead with two holes to play but three-putted the par-three 17th for a bogey and Lewis then got even with a birdie at the 18th.

Lewis is the 12th first-time winner since the tournament moved to Oakwood County Club in 1975.

Hale Irwin survived two late bogeys to shoot three-under-par 69 for a two-stroke victory over Jim Dent and Dale Douglass in the Burnet Senior Classic at Coon Rapids, Minn.

It was Irwin’s fifth victory in his last eight starts.

Irwin, who won $225,000, finished at 15-under 201, despite bogeys at Nos. 15 and 17 that eroded a seemingly safe cushion. Irwin went to the par-five 18th hole with just a one-stroke lead over Dent and Douglass. Irwin chipped his third shot within 12 feet and sank the birdie putt.

Dent, who closed with a 66, and Douglass, who shot 65, finished at 13-under 203. Both had the best paydays of the year as they each won $120,000. Gil Morgan, who shot a 68, finished at 204 and Jim Colbert (69) and Allen Doyle (68) were at 205.

Jackie Gallagher-Smith won her first LPGA tournament, shooting a seven-under-par 65 for a three-stroke victory over Marnie McGuire in the Giant Eagle Classic at Avalon Lakes in Howland, Ohio.

Gallagher-Smith’s final score of 199 was a tournament record for the 6,308-yard, par-72 course. Michelle McGann set the previous mark of 200 in 1996.

Gallagher-Smith, who won $150,000, had missed 11 of 19 cuts this year and had yet to crack the top 20 in a tournament.

But she knew this was her day when, on the 375-yard, par-four seventh hole, she hit an eight-iron into the cup from 132 yards for an eagle.

McGuire, also seeking her first title, fell out of contention on the 360-yard, par-four 14th, after hitting her tee shot into the woods on the left and having to take a drop from an unplayable lie.

Christy O’Connor Jr., playing in the Senior British Open for the first time, shot a three-under-par 69 to win the event at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. He finished at six-under 282.

O’Connor, a 50-year-old Irishman who joined the senior tour only this year, started the final round a stroke behind New Zealander Bob Charles.

But Charles had major problems. He shot a 77 and fell back into a tie for fifth place, seven strokes off the pace.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Final Results

$2-MILLION JOHN DEERE CLASSIC--Par 72

x-J.L. Lewis: 65--261 (-19)--$360,000

Mike Brisky: 65--261 (-19)--$216,000

Kirk Triplett: 64--264 (-16)--$116,000

Brian Henninger: 71--264 (-16)--$116,000

x-won in playoff

$1.5-MILLION COLDWELL BANKER

BURNET SENIOR CLASSIC--Par 72