NEW ORLEANS, May 4 (UPI) -- Steve Flesch earned his first career win the hard way Sunday, making a 30-foot birdie putt on the most difficult closing hole on the PGA Tour to defeat Bob Estes in a playoff 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, 7-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 furhter from the cup than that of 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-4 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 lefthander to win an event on both the PGA Tour and its minor league circuit.
A Kentucky native who turns 36 later this month, Flesch earned the $900,000 top prize and moved into the top 10 on the money list with $1.38 million, more than he collected during either of the past two seasons.
Estes birdied three of his last six holes to close with a 69 and force sudden death. Seeking his fifth career win and second in as many seasons, Estes fell to 0-3 lifetime in playoffs.
Scott Verplank had an even more disappointing day as a bogey, par, double-bogey finish left him two strokes out of a playoff at 19-under 269. He led after the second and third rounds.
