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Darkness halts RSM Classic with four chasing title

By AFP

Monday 21 November 2016 00:08, UK

ST SIMONS ISLAND, GA - NOVEMBER 20: Camilo Villegas of Colombia talks after play was suspended after the second round of the playoff until tomorrow moring
Image: Camilo Villegas is aiming to win his first PGA title in more than two years on Monday

Colombia's Camilo Villegas, seeking his first PGA title in more than two years, will be among four golfers shooting for the RSM Classic crown on Monday when their darkness-halted play-off resumes.

Villegas will be joined by Canada's Mackenzie Hughes, Sweden's Henrik Norlander and American Blayne Barber - all seeking their first PGA title - on the tee at the par-three 17th hole on Monday morning on the seaside course at Sea Island, Georgia.

Five players finished level for the lead on 17-under par 265 after 72 holes but American Billy Horschel fell out of the play-off by botching a tap-in par putt on the first extra hole.

Norlander fired a final-round 65 while Barber shot 66, Villegas and Horschel each fired 68s and Hughes, seeking a wire-to-wire win, closed with a 69.

ST SIMONS ISLAND, GA - NOVEMBER 17: Mackenzie Hughes of Canada plays his tee shot on the 15th hole during the first round of the RSM Classic at Sea Island
Image: Mackenzie Hughes is also in the running for the RSM Classic crown

Sharing a distant sixth were Taiwan's Pan Cheng-Tsung and Americans Jim Furyk, Jamie Lovemark and Ollie Schniederjans on 268.

The only member of the playoff lineup with prior PGA playoff experience was Villegas, who lost to American Mark Wilson at the 2007 Honda Classic but defeated Spain's Sergio Garcia at the 2008 Tour Championship.

The five returned to the par-4 18th for the first play-off hole and all gave themselves birdie putts but missed.
Norlander was just short of the cup on a 30-footer while Barber went a foot past from 25 feet and Horschel did the same from 20 feet. Hughes and Villegas each failed on 15-foot birdie putts.

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The last four returned to the 18th tee for the second play-off hole as the light began to fade and they all reached the green again for birdie attempts in the twilight gloom.

ST SIMONS ISLAND, GA - NOVEMBER 20: Henrik Norlander of Sweden plays his tee shot on the 16th hole during the final round of the RSM Classic at Sea Island
Image: Henrik Norlander (pictured) is also in the hunt, as is Blayne Barber

Norlander left his 30-foot birdie try two feet short while Barber slid his 25-footer one foot beyond the cup and Villegas was two feet shy of the hole from 27 feet.

That left Hughes, 25, an eight-foot birdie putt to win in only his ninth PGA start, but the ball rolled just off the left edge and he made a two-footer coming back to join the rest in sleeping on the drama.

Villegas, 34, seeks his fifth PGA title after the 2008 BMW Championship and Tour Championship, 2010 Honda Classic and 2014 Wyndham Championship.

Barber, 26, shared third in last year's Honda Classic for his best showing in 60 prior PGA starts.

Norlander, 29, is ranked 409th in the world. His best PGA finish was a share of 15th in 2013 at New Orleans.

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