Allenby Survives Playoff

L.A. Times Archives

May 1, 2000 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

Robert Allenby, after watching Craig Stadler miss three chances at a playoff victory, made a 10-foot par putt on the fourth extra hole Sunday to win the Houston Open at the Woodlands, Texas, for his first PGA Tour title.

With fellow Australian and defending champion Stuart Appleby following his every move from the edge of the gallery, Allenby survived going into the water on the first playoff hole and won it despite hitting into the stands behind the green on the last extra hole.

Allenby started the final round with a one-shot lead over Stadler but the two ended regulation tied at 13-under 275.

Stadler, who was looking for his first tour victory since 1996, had a final-round 71 at the 7,108-yard TPC at the Woodlands. His putter did him in in the playoff as he missed opportunities for the win on each of the first three holes.

On the final playoff hole, the 421-yard 10th, Allenby hooked his tee shot into a bunker and his second shot went into the grandstands. He took a drop, chipped within 10 feet and made the putt. Stadler, whose second shot was over the green, then missed a putt from about the same distance.

Allenby, a four-time winner on the European tour, earned $504,000. His best previous PGA Tour finish was a tie for second in this year’s Phoenix Open. Stadler, who hasn’t won since the 1996 Nissan Open, took home $302,400.

Sophie Gustafson made a four-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole of the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship at Stockbridge, Ga., to clinch her first victory on the LPGA Tour. She finished one shot ahead of Kelly Robbins and Amy Fruhwirth.

Karrie Webb, who had won four of her five events this year and finished second in the other, began the day three shots off the lead and couldn’t make up the deficit--even though the three players in front of her to start the round were a combined 10 over on the front nine.

Webb finished with a one-under-par 71 for a 12-under 208 total, two shots behind behind Gustafson.

Gustafson, a native of Sweden, was four over after a double bogey at No. 7 but battled back for a 72. She had a string of five birdies in six holes, beginning at No. 9. She had bogeys at 15 and 16, then made a testy three-footer to save par at 17. Her second shot at 18 sailed into the bunker alongside the green, but she escaped the sand with a brilliant shot that rolled just left of the flag and spun to a halt four feet away. Gustafson made the putt to earn $135,000.

John Jacobs shot an eight-under-par 64 to overcome a six-stroke deficit, then beat Gil Morgan on the first hole of a playoff in the Bruno’s Memorial Classic at Hoover, Ala.

Jacobs two-putted for par on the extra hole for his third Senior PGA Tour victory after Morgan hit his approach shot into the water and finished with a bogey. There was about a 12-minute delay as officials determined where Morgan should drop his ball.

Jacobs sipped a bottle of water and puffed on a cigar while he waited near the 18th green.

“Was I ever going to get to hit that bunker shot?” he quipped. “I thought it was a conspiracy.”

He punctuated his round of 64 with a 20-foot eagle putt on the final hole of regulation. The best round of his senior career is a 63 in the 1999 Kaanapali Classic.

Morgan parred the final four holes to finish with a 69 and send the $1.3 million tournament into sudden death on the 6,967-yard Greystone Golf Club course.

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Final Scores

PGA:

$2.8-Million Shell Houston Open

275 (-13)--$504,000

x-Robert Allenby: 68-67-68-72

Craig Stadler: 66-69-69-71

276 (-12)--$162,400

Loren Roberts: 68-67-72-69

Joel Edwards 68-71-67-70

277 (-11)--$106,400

Mark Brooks: 69-67-72-69