GREENSBORO, N.C. — Ryan Moore claimed his first win on PGA Tour with a birdie on the third hole of a sudden death playoff Sunday to beat Kent Denver graduate Kevin Stadler at the Wyndham Championship.
After vaulting up the leaderboard with five consecutive birdies on the back nine, Moore had two putts to seal the victory after his approach on No. 18 landed in the middle of the green and rolled to 6 feet. He sank that putt for his first victory in his 112th event.
Stadler’s second shot on the third playoff hole skipped off the back of the green. He chipped within 20 feet, but his par putt drifted to the low side of the cup.
Stadler, Moore and Jason Bohn forced the playoff after they were tied at 16-under-par 264 through 72 holes. Bohn was eliminated on the first playoff hole after he had trouble escaping the greenside bunker on No. 18 and his first try rolled back into the sand.
Moore and Stadler both bogeyed No. 18 in regulation.
Moore sailed his drive near the cart path. His second shot bounced into the sand and — after a remarkable bunker chip to 8 feet — his short par putt bent left around the hole. Stadler’s third shot landed on a hill behind the green but rolled back to 8 feet from the flagstick, but he left his par putt about 6 inches short.
“I can’t play that hole,” Stadler said. “I’ll just leave it that.”
Moore shot a 65 in the final round and had five consecutive birdies on Nos. 12-16 in moving to 17-under, then waited while Stadler finished his final-round 66 that included back-to-back birdies on Nos. 14 and 15.
Stadler was attempting to join his father — 13-time PGA winner Craig Stadler — in winning in Greensboro.
Stadler picked up enough points to move off the bubble and into the playoffs, which begin later this week at The Barclays.
Reid prevails in playoff
SUNRIVER, Ore. — Mike Reid (69) made a 12-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat John Cook (70) and win the Jeld-Wen Tradition for his second career major on the Champions Tour.
Dyson comes from way back
ZANDVOORT, Netherlands — Simon Dyson came from six shots behind to win the KLM Open, beating Peter Lawrie and Peter Hedblom in a playoff.
The Associated Press
