Dakota Dunes Open - Nike Tour
Dakota Dunes Open - Nike Tour
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Quinn wins playoff for title at Dakota Dunes

Fran Quinn birdied the first playoff hole to defeat Ryan Howison and Craig Kanada for the title at the Nike Dakota Dunes Open. Quinn earned a first-prize of $63,000 for his first career Nike Tour win.

Quinn, Howison and Kanada each finished regulation tied at 18- under 270 and went back to the par-five 18th for the playoff.

Quinn, who bogeyed the 18th in regulation after hitting his tee shot into the rough, found the fairway with his tee shot in the playoff. Howison and Kanada, however, each hit their drives into the deep rough. Quinn's second shot from 258 yards got to the fringe of the green, while Howison and Kanada each had to take two more shots to reach the green.

Quinn then chipped to within four feet of the cup, leaving himself with a short birdie putt. Howison and Kanada each missed their long birdie attempts, and Quinn drained his short putt for the title.

"This is unbelievable. I've played a lot of places the last few years and never won," said Quinn, who has been a runner-up five times on the Asian Tour. "This is the best accomplishment I've had in golf."

Quinn moved up from 56th on the money list to ninth. The top-15 players at the end of the year earn their PGA Tour cards for 2000.

Quinn came from five shots off the pace to earn the win. He had a one-shot lead heading to the 18th hole, but his tee shot into the rough and settled for a bogey to finish with a four-under 68 for the round.

Kanada finished with a two-under 70 on Sunday, birdieing the final two holes to earn his way into the playoff.

Howison, however, struggled during the final round. He started the day with a three-shot lead, but carded a one-over 73. He had a chance to win it on the final hole of regulation, but missed a 15-foot birdie putt.

Howison also lost a three-way playoff at this tournament last year when John Maginnes chipped in from 60 feet on the first playoff hole to win.

"I'm very disappointed," said Howison, who hit only 11 of 18 greens on Sunday. "Finishing second and making a big chunk of change ($34,300) means absolutely nothing right now. Maybe later in the year when it means getting in the top-15 and getting to the PGA Tour, it might. But right now, I'm very dissatisfied."

Howison, who won the Lakeland Classic in January, is eighth on the money list this year.

 

TSN

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