Bob Sowards wins playoff in Event No. 6 in PGA Tournament Series

PORT ST. LUCIE – Bob Sowards capped off another successful week Friday when he made a 20-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to win Event No. 6 of the PGA Tournament Series at PGA Golf Club. 

Sowards started the week with a win at the Indian River Grapefruit Pro-Am in Vero Beach, lost Event No. 5 in a four-way playoff Tuesday before beating Rob Corcoran of North Palm Beach. Sowards shot 5-under 67 on the Ryder Course in windy conditions to finish at 8-under 136. Corcoran missed an 8-foot birdie putt that would have extended the playoff.

“I like this playoff a lot better than the last one,” said Sowards, the PGA Head Professional at Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club in Powell, Ohio. “I got lucky with the last putt. I just assumed we were going to No. 2, but it’s tough to make putts when it’s windy.” 

It was Sowards’ 10th career PGA Tournament Series victory, trying him for fourth on the all-time list with Lonnie Nielsen and Tom Wargo, behind Bruce Zabriski (18), Mike San Filippo (16) and Gene Fieger (15). 

“Ten is a nice, solid round number, a little better than nine,” Sowards said. “It’s always hard to win because these guys are so good down here.”

Corcoran had a chance to win in regulation, but missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole. He didn’t make a bogey during his round, but failed to birdie the par-5 17th hole that was playing downwind.

“I played great,” Corcoran said. “I had a putt on the last hole to win. I knew where I stood. Unfortunately, it didn’t go down. 

“Bob is the best player down here. Every time I get paired with him, I love it because I learn from him. All of us are lucky to get a pairing when we get to watch him play.”

Soward earned $5,000 for the win. He earned more than $12,000 the past week.

Scott Berliner of Lake Luzerne, N.Y., left his birdie putt at No. 18 on the edge of the cup, missing the playoff by a shot after a 69. Berliner birdied the 16th and eagled the 17th, almost playing the last three holes in 4-under.

Nick Beddow (67) of Palm Beach Gardens tied for fourth with Casey Pyne (68) of Bloomington, Ill., and Steven Delmar (70) of Rockville, Md., at 138. First-round leader Frank Bensel of Jupiter shot 72 and finished tied for seventh.

The PGA Tournament Series is presented by GolfAdvisor.com.