High Drama in Women’s Open

A putt for the ages set up a U.S. Women’s Open playoff for two 20-year-olds.

Amateur Jenny Chuasiriporn made a 40-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole Sunday, then watched as fellow 20-year-old Se Ri Pak missed an eight-footer for birdie on the same hole that would have meant a victory.

The two will meet today in an 18-hole playoff to determine the youngest winner in the history of the U.S. Women’s Open.

They will play at least one more round on the unforgiving Blackwolf Run Golf Course in Kohler, Wis., where only one golfer has broken par since Friday.

Because Chuasiriporn is an amateur, Pak got the $267,500 first-place check before she even left the clubhouse.

Even though she’s playing for pride and not pay, Chuasiriporn can’t wait.

“I really enjoy just playing,” said Chuasiriporn, who will be a senior at Duke next fall. “Just two 20-year-olds, I guess. It should to be fun.”

If the 18th hole is any indication, it should be fantastic, too.

After Chuasiriporn’s dramatic putt brought her into a tie for the lead at six over for the tournament, Pak, playing in the next, and final, twosome, missed hers, setting up the playoff that can be seen on ESPN starting at 9 a.m. PDT.

Pak, who began the day with a one-stroke lead, finished with a five-over 76 for a six-over 290 for 72 holes. Chuasiriporn, who had a closing 72, started the round four strokes back, tied for fourth.

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On the men’s PGA Tour, all that was needed was one hole of sudden death to determine the winner of the Greater Hartford Open at Cromwell, Conn., as Olin Browne made a 40-foot chip for birdie on the first playoff hole.

The story here was the collapse of Larry Mize, who, along with defending champion Stewart Cink, lost to the playoff to Browne.

Mize had a four-stroke lead going to the 15th hole after stringing together birdies on Nos. 11-14. But on the par-four, 296-yard 15th, he shanked a five-iron deep into the woods and, after several minutes of searching, found his unplayable ball and had to tee it up again. He took a double-bogey and missed a one-foot par putt on No. 16.

By the time he reached the final hole, the 1987 Masters champion had a one-stroke lead over Browne and Cink. But his approach shot rolled off the back of the green and he took a bogey that gave him a one-under-par 69 and put him at 14 under for the tournament.

Browne, who became the sixth first-time winner on tour this year, finished with a 67. Cink, who also shot a 67, reserved his spot in the playoff with a birdie at the signature 17th hole.

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There was no playoff at the State Farm Senior Classic in Columbia, Md., because Bruce Summerhays made a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win it.

Summerhays, who started the day three strokes off the pace, shot a final-round 69 for a 10-under-par 206 total and a one-shot victory over Hale Irwin and Walter Hall.

On the 381-yard 17th, Summerhays’ tee shot landed in a sand-filled divot. But he hit an eight-iron within 27 feet and two-putted to save par.

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All David Carter needed was a bogey on the first playoff hole to deny Colin Montgomerie a third straight Irish Open title at Dublin.