Raleigh, NC (My Sportsbook) - Kevin Johnson birdied the first playoff hole Sunday to defeat Jeff Gallagher and win the Rex Hospital Open at the TPC Wakefield Plantation.
Johnson, the overnight leader, shot a four-under-par 67 and birdied the last hole in regulation from five feet to join Gallagher, who fired a 64 Sunday, atop the leaderboard.
The pair finished at 18-under 266 and matched the tournament scoring record set by several golfers before them.
Johnson and Gallagher headed back to the par-five 18th tee at the TP Wakefield Plantation to begin the extra session. Both missed the fairway with their drives, but were in the fairway after their second shots.
Both players hit strong third shots with both inside five feet from the flagstick.
Gallagher putted first and had five feet. His putt slid off the left lip and that left the door open for Johnson, who was about one foot closer than Gallagher.
Johnson rolled in his birdie effort to get his second playoff win on the Nationwide Tour.
In terms of history, this was a significant victory for Johnson. It was his fifth on the Nationwide Tour and moved him into a tie for fourth place on the all-time wins list. One more win, and Johnson would tie for the all-time lead in the circuit's history.
But, with the $94,500 first-place check on Sunday, Johnson moved to fourth on the Nationwide Tour money list and appears to already be on the fast track toward a spot next year on the PGA Tour.
For Gallagher, this could've been his third Nationwide Tour win and first since 2000. He rattled off four birdies in a row from the fourth and three in a row from 11 to get the lead. Gallagher momentarily lost first with a bogey at 14, but got the stroke back with a birdie at No. 16.
Johnson mixed six birdies and two bogeys on Sunday, but two birdies in his last six holes got him the win.
David Mathis shot a four-under 67 and took third at minus-15.
D.J. Brigman (67), Chad Collins (68) and Chris Baryla (68) shared fourth at 14-under 270. Skip Kendall (66), Jeff Gove (68), Cameron Percy (69) and Jim McGovern (70) tied for seventh at minus-13.
