Eagle putt in regulation, birdies in playoff lift Thompson

Updated: September 16, 2007, 11:31 PM ET

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Associated Press

JUNCTION CITY, Ore. -- Kyle Thompson made a 60-foot eagle putt on the final hole of regulation, then birdied the par-5 18th twice in a playoff to win the Oregon Classic for his second Nationwide Tour victory of the year.

Thompson, the Rex Hospital Open winner in June, closed with a 5-under 67 to match Matthew Jones (66) and Jon Turcott (69) at 17-under 271 on the Shadow Hills Country Club course. Thompson and Jones opened the playoff with birdies to eliminate Turcott, and Thompson won with his second straight birdie.

"It's been a crazy year," said Thompson, the 28-year-old former South Carolina star who has made only nine cuts in 23 events. "I have two wins, and a bunch of top 25s. So I either miss the cut or I finish top 25.

"Ideally, that's the way to do it. So you have some weekends off. I had one year on tour out here where I made 17 cuts, but only $67,000. That drives you crazy because you are playing so well and not cashing in on the weekends."

Thompson earned $85,500 to jump from 27th to seventh on the money list with $229,668. The top 25 at the end of the season will earn PGA Tour cards, and Thompson also could earn an immediate promotion with a third victory this year.

"It's such a relief and a weight off my shoulders," Thompson said. "Back-to-back years I came about $5,000 short of earning my card. The year I finished 22nd on the money list, I three-putted on the final hole of the Tour Championship to lose my card. But everything happens for a reason. I firmly believe in that."

Brenden Pappas (68) and Brad Elder (71) tied for fourth at 15 under, and Peter Tomasulo (65), Mike Heinen (69) and Roland Thatcher (70) followed at 14 under. Thatcher earned $15,378 to push his tour-leading total to $401,632.