AMERICAN Paul Stankowski won the last place in the US Masters when he lifted his first US Tour title yesterday. Stankowski, a 26 year old Californian, took the BellSouth Classic in Marietta, Georgia, after a play off with Brandel Chamblee, making him the fourth first time winner in the States in five weeks.
The pair finished on the eight under par total of 280, two in front of Nick Price and overnight leader David Duval - and eight ahead of both Colin Montgomerie and Ian Woosnam, who closed with disappointing rounds of 73.
Stankowski, a winner on the American mini tour only last week, was originally the sixth reserve for the tournament, but picked up the £156,000 first prize after Chamblee dumped his second shot to the par five 18th - the opening sudden death hole - into the lake.
Chamblee looked favourite as the final round reached its climax, Stankowski going into sand at both the 17th and 18th. But he got up and down each time, holing from eight and three feet to force the tie.
Hitting the worse drive in the play off proved to be a blessing in disguise. He was forced to lay up and then, after seeing Chamblee fail to make the carry with his one iron, pitched to 10 feet and, with two for victory, sank the birdie putt.
Woosnam and Montgomerie, first and second respectively on the European Order of Merit, could not repeat their third round 68s and fell back into the pack. Two shots further back was Sam Torrance following a closing 70.
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