Lowery beats Kendall in playoff

After three days of stellar golf, Steve Lowery had seen his three-stroke lead and all the confidence that came with it slip away in eight holes.

But instead of falling apart when he fell behind for the first time in days, Lowery rallied with some of the biggest shots of his career.

Lowery rolled in a 40-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the first playoff hole to beat Skip Kendall and win the Southern Farm Bureau Classic today.

Four times in his career, including this year at the Kemper Insurance Open, Lowery has led going into the final round and all four times he has lost the lead.

"I wasn't playing my best, but I held it together,'' said Lowery, who won for the second time in his PGA Tour career despite shooting a 70 today, his worst round of the tournament.

Kendall missed a 12-footer that would have resulted in a second playoff hole.

Lowery forced the playoff by birdieing No. 18 after Kendall parred the par-5, 522-yard hole at Annandale Golf Club to finish at 22-under 266.

Lowery led after each of the first three rounds and came into the final round with a three-shot advantage. But he took just his second bogey of the tournament on No. 8 and played the first 12 holes 1-over par.

"I shot a 65 yesterday without a bogey,'' Lowery said. "You couldn't have been more confident ... I will tell you an hour and a half into this fourth round you just don't have the confidence that you have the day before.''

Kendall began the day four strokes back but ripped off four straight birdies staring on No. 10, then picked up his sixth for the side on No. 17 with the help of a 9-iron to two feet. That gave him two-stroke lead at 22-under.

"I knew at that point I had a very good chance of winning the golf tournament,'' said Kendall, who shot a 66.

But Lowery had birdies on 13 and 17, then two-putted from 70 feet for birdie on 18 to tie Kendall.

"I finally got the handcuffs off around 13," Lowery said.

On his third shot on 18 in the playoff, Lowery hit a sand wedge that landed on the green and spun off into the front fringe. When Kendall stuck his approach, a pitching wedge that landed 12 feet from the cup, it looked like the 36-year-old player was set to capture his first PGA Tour win.

But Lowery made his stunning birdie, pumping his fist as it hit the stick and dropped in, and Kendall missed his putt to tie.

"Your just looking at it and reacting to it,'' Lowery said of his winner. "It was just so amazing that that putt went in. There are so many factors and so many things that could happen.''

Lowery said he thought about chipping the ball, but decided the grass was more conducive to the putter, and was hoping to two-putt.

"You always have to think your opponent is going to make the shot,'' Kendall said. "I don't think it was so much of a shock."

Kendall has now finished second three times in his career. His other runner-up finishes came at the 1999 Canon Greater Hartford Open and at the 1998 Buick Invitational, where he lost in a playoff to Scott Simpson, who birdied the first extra hole.

The $396,000 paycheck is the largest of Lowery's career and could move him into the top 30 on the PGA Tour money list at season's end. He came in 36th in earnings.

Kenny Perry shot a 68 today and finished third with a 267, a shot behind the leaders.

Pete Jordan finished tied for fourth at 269, shooting a 64 for the low round of the day. It helped him retain his PGA Tour card for 2001. He entered the tournament 126th on the money list and the top 125 receive full playing privileges for the next season.

But the $96,800 payday jumped Jordan to 107 with his strong finish.

Brandt Jobe, who was 127th on the money list, also jumped off the bubble with a 16-under 272 that put him in a tie for 13th. He moved to 120.

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