Berganio beats Bateman in playoff

It all came down to the 18th hole at The Champions Club -- again and again and again.

David Berganio Jr. made par on the second playoff hole -- the third playing of No. 18 Sunday -- to edge Ahmad Bateman and take home the $90,000 winner's check at the $500,000 BUY.COM Omaha Classic.

After recording two pars on the first extra hole, both golfers hit their approach shots into the first cut of rough surrounding the 18th green on the second extra hole. Bateman's shot came to rest 60 feet below and left of the hole, while Berganio's landed about 20 feet behind the hole.

Bateman chipped his putt to about 6 feet but his par putt just rolled by -- much like it did on the 72nd hole. Berganio attempted his downhill putt for birdie and it slid by, but his 3 1/2-foot comeback was enough to allow him to capture his third victory on the BUY.COM TOUR in front of 22,000 fans.

"The first time I won in Mexico (1996 Monterrey Open), I was like six shots back and the leaders kind of lost it and then last year in Odessa (1999 Permian Basin Open) I was one shot back and I birdied the first and I held on and won," Berganio said. "I won that tournament. Today, I was two shots back and I got off to another good start and I played most of the day with the lead so I felt like I won this tournament as well.

"It's a lot different when you come from behind and guys are gagging or choking vs. getting out there and knowing you can play with the lead. It's the sign of a winner."

Berganio, who will compete in next week's Buick Classic on the PGA TOUR with a sponsor's exemption, missed a 3-footer on the 72nd hole for par to drop to 20-under and into a tie with Bateman, who still had one hole left to play. When Bateman knocked his approach shot to within 6 feet of the hole, Berganio thought he had given away the tournament. But Bateman's putt slid just over the right rim and the two were off to the second playoff in this tournament's five-year history.

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