Mike Hill birdied the first hole in sudden death Sunday to beat Bruce Crampton by a stroke in the GTE North Seniors Classic.
Hill won his second tournament of the year by shooting a 4-under 68 for a 54-hole total of 201, 15-under on the 6,695-yard layout.
Trailing by a stroke, Hill birdied the 482-yard 17th hole to tie Crampton, who shot a final-round 66 at Broadmoor Country Club.
Crampton missed a chance to win on the 18th when his birdie attempt from the fringe stopped on the edge of the cup.
”I really thought that chip shot was in the hole. From where I was watching, it really looked like it couldn`t miss,” Crampton said.
Hill said he looked twice to make sure the shot didn`t fall.
”I was lucky Bruce didn`t chip in at 18. He got a great shot,” he said. In the playoff, Hill`s second shot on the par-4, 364-yard 16th hole landed three inches from the cup. He tapped in for the birdie in his first-ever playoff, taking home a winner`s check worth $67,500.
Crampton`s approach landed beyond the green and his third shot skidded past the cup, leaving him a long putt for par.
”After Bruce hit it over the green, it made it a lot easier for me,”
Hill said. ”I knew Bruce had to really hit a shot to get it up and down from back there.”
