Cejka wins Puerto Rico Open in 5-man playoff
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RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico (AP) – Alex Cejka won the Puerto Rico Open Sunday for his first PGA Tour title, making a 12-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a five-man playoff.
The 44-year-old Czech-born German won in his 287th start on the PGA Tour. A four-time European Tour winner, he birdied four of the first six holes and finished with a 3-under 69 in rainy, windy conditions at Trump International-Puerto Rico.
Sam Saunders, Arnold Palmer’s grandson, had a chance to force another playoff hole, but his 8-foot birdie try on the par-5 18th went to the right. Jon Curran, Tim Petrovic and Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo also were in the playoff.
Grillo and Curran shared the lead at 8 under with one hole left in regulation, but closed with bogeys in the second-to-last group. Grillo settled for a 70 after missed a short putt. Curran also had a 70.
Petrovic shot a 67, and Saunders had a 68
Scott Brown, the 2013 winner playing in the final group, had a chance to get into the playoff with a birdie on the final hole, but made a bogey to drop into a tie for 10th at 5 under. He finished with a 73.