Hietala pars first extra hole of sudden death playoff to top Branshaw
OMAHA, Neb. -- Ryan Hietala parred the first extra hole of a sudden death playoff to defeat David Branshaw on Sunday at the Nationwide Tour's Cox Classic.
Hietala, who earned $126,000 for the victory, and Branshaw had tied at 19-under 265 after four rounds.
Skip Kendall shot a 64, the low round of the day and his lowest of the year, to finish in a tie for third with Garth Mulroy and Alex Prugh at 16 under.
This is the fourth time the Cox Classic was decided in a playoff.
Both players found the fairway on the extra hole. Branshaw hit a pitch from the rough to within 5 feet, but missed his par putt.
"David played fantastic and to see his five-footer miss -- you never root against anybody -- but I can't believe it," said Hietala, of Boise, Idaho.
Hietala's last victory was at the 2005 Chitimacha Louisiana Open. It was also his last top-10 finish.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
