High fives as Flesch triumphs (Getty Images).
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Steve Flesch earned his first career win the hard way, making a 30-foot birdie
putt on the most difficult closing hole on the PGA Tour to defeat Bob Estes in a
play-off at the HP Classic.
A two-time runner-up in New Orleans who was playing in his 174th PGA Tour
event, Flesch earned the clubhouse lead at 21-under-par 267 with a bogey-free
seven-under 65 that included a six-foot par save at the 18th.
After waiting on the practice range while regulation finished, Flesch put his
approach shot on the first hole of sudden death seven feet behind Estes', but he
rolled in the birdie, one of only three on the day at the 18th hole.
Including three birdies and two pars at the 471-yard, par-four 18th, which has
a narrow green guarded by water and engulfing bunkers, Flesch played his last 56
holes at the English Turn Golf and Country Club without a bogey.
When Estes missed his birdie try, Flesch had his first professional victory
since he claimed the 1997 Nationwide Tour Championship.
He became the only left-hander to win an event on the PGA Tour and its minor
league circuit.
A Kentucky native who turns 36 later this month, Flesch earned the £560,000
top prize and moved into the top 10 on the money list with more than £850,000,
already more than he collected in 2001 or 2002.
Flesch's caddie used to carry the bag for Estes. Estes birdied three of his
last six holes to close a 69 and force sudden death.
Seeking his fifth career win and second in as many seasons, Estes fell to 0-3
lifetime in play-offs.
Scott Verplank had an even more disappointing day as a bogey, par,
double-bogey finish left him two strokes out of a play-off at 19-under 269. He
led after the second and third rounds.
Collated final totals (USA Unless Stated, Par 72): 267 Steve Flesch 67 70 65 65, Bob Estes 66 66 66 69 (Flesch wins at first
play-off hole
269 Scott Verplank 65 63 67 74
270 Mark Wilson 65 67 69 69
271 Jerry Kelly 67 69 65 70, J.L. Lewis 68 68 65 70
272 Woody Austin 66 72 65 69
273 Briny Baird 68 71 66 68, Chris DiMarco 69 68 65 71, David Frost 70 65 71
67
274 Brian Bateman 66 70 70 68, Vijay Singh 67 68 69 70, Jeff Sluman 65 69 66
74, Paul Stankowski 64 69 71 70, Patrick Sheehan 68 69 72 65
275 John Riegger 66 68 68 73, Brian Gay 65 66 68 76, Mike Sposa 73 63 71 68,
Kirk Triplett 66 66 67 76, Stuart Appleby 71 68 63 73, Skip Kendall 68 69 67 71,
Davis Love III 65 67 71 72, Steve Lowery 71 64 73 67, Scott McCarron 70 67 66
72
276 Geoff Ogilvy 67 67 69 73, Greg Chalmers 70 66 68 72, Esteban Toledo (Mex)
69 70 67 70, Pat Bates 68 68 71 69, Tom Pernice Jr 67 70 69 70
277 Jason Caron 70 68 69 70, David Sutherland 68 68 70 71, Stewart Cink 65 72
68 72, Stephen Ames (Tri) 65 68 70 74, Brent Geiberger 68 68 72 69, Shaun
Micheel 69 68 71 69, Jay Williamson 69 65 69 74
278 K.J. Choi (Kor) 65 70 73 70, Darron Stiles 66 68 73 71, Cameron Beckman 69
69 69 71, Kent Jones 72 67 69 70, Lee Westwood (Gbr) 69 67 69 73, Todd Barranger
66 65 76 71
279 Cliff Kresge 70 69 68 72, Hank Kuehne 70 68 71 70, Chris Riley 68 70 68
73, Jeff Brehaut 70 67 68 74, Mark Brooks 69 69 71 70, Dan Forsman 71 67 75 66,
Akio Sadakata (Jpn) 64 68 72 75
280 Charles Howell III 68 70 69 73, Mathew Goggin 70 69 68 73, Carlos Franco
(Par) 71 65 73 71, Gene Sauers 69 70 72 69, Hidemichi Tanaka (Jpn) 70 69 69 72,
Bob May 69 67 71 73
281 John Senden 71 67 70 73, Michael Clark II 70 67 73 71, Brent Schwarzrock
67 70 68 76, Billy Andrade 73 66 66 76, Joel Edwards 69 70 70 72, Mike Heinen 71
68 70 72, Billy Mayfair 66 71 71 73, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 70 68 68 75, Cameron
Yancey 66 68 68 79
282 Heath Slocum 70 69 69 74, Craig Perks (Nzl) 69 70 74 69
283 John Rollins 69 70 75 69, Brian Watts 70 68 72 73, Hal Sutton 69 70 72 72,
Kelly Gibson 71 68 73 71, Phil Mickelson 70 69 67 77
284 Rich Beem 69 68 72 75
285 Chris M Anderson 68 71 65 81, Chris Smith 71 68 70 76
286 Ben Curtis 68 69 73 76
287 Todd Fischer 66 73 70 78
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