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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, October 2, 2006

Trahan sinks 3 birdies on 18th in playoff win

Associated Press

Trahan

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D.J. Trahan wasn't happy with his putting yesterday until he got to a playoff in the Southern Farm Bureau Classic in Madison, Miss.

After finishing regulation with a par to force the playoff with Joe Durant, Trahan put on an overtime putting clinic, birdieing the par-5 18th three straight times in sudden death to win his first PGA Tour title.

"Nothing really changed to be honest with you," Trahan said. "I was stroking the ball the same. I made the putts on 17 and I made the putts in the playoffs. I didn't feel like I was stroking it any different or my mentality with the putter was any different. But fortunately for me those putts were going in, unlike the ones earlier in the day."

Trahan won with a 5-foot birdie putt on the third extra hole after closing with a 1-under 71 to match Durant (66) at 13-under 275 on the Annandale Golf Club course. Trahan holed the winning putt after Durant missed a 5-footer of his own.

"I just pulled it a little bit," Durant said. "It was a left-edge putt, and I just got it outside of the hole and it didn't come back."

Trahan, the second-year tour player who led after each of the first three rounds, earned $540,000 and a two-year PGA Tour exemption. He entered the week 142nd on the money list with $474,242.

CHAMPIONS TOUR

BEAN HOLDS OFF EAKS IN PLAYOFF VICTORY

Andy Bean won the Greater Hickory Classic for his first Champions Tour title, two-putting for birdie from 25 feet to beat R.W. Eaks on the first hole of a playoff at Conover, N.C.

Bean, the leader after each of the first two rounds, closed with a 4-under 68 to match Eaks (65) at 15-under 201 on Rock Barn Golf and Spa's Jones Course and force the first playoff in tournament history. While Bean two-putted for birdie on the first extra hole, Eaks' 4-foot birdie try hit the lip and spun out.

The 53-year-old Bean, who earned $240,000, won in his 91st start on the 50-and-over tour after winning 11 times on the PGA Tour.