Allen Survives Playoff to Win Classic at Rock Barn


Michael Allen closed with a 5-under 65 to overtake 36-hole leader Bernhard Langer and tie Olin Browne in regulation, then beat Browne - who fired a 64 - on the first sudden-death hole to win the Greater Hickory Kia Classic at Rock Barn. The $1.6 million Champions Tour event began Friday at Rock Barn Golf & Spa in Conover, N.C.

Allen started the day two shots behind Langer. But six birdies and a bogey gave him the 65 and a tie with Browne, who carded a bogey and seven birdies - including five straight to open the back nine - at 13-under 197.

On the first playoff hole, the par-5 18th, Allen got the winning tap-in birdie that Browne couldn't match. The win, worth $240,000, was the 54-year-old Allen's fifth on the Champions Tour.

After opening with rounds of 64 and 66, Langer couldn't get untracked Sunday. The 56-year-old German carded three birdies and two bogeys for a 69 to finish two strokes out of the playoff.

Alone in fourth at 201 was Brad Bryant (69), while another stroke back was John Riegger (70).

Chien Soon Lu (66), Tom Kite (67) and Anders Forsbrand (69) shared sixth at 203.

The points' leader in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup, Kenny Perry, shot 69 to finish T20 at 206. Perry entered Rock Barn leading Langer by 609 points in the Cup standings.

The winner in last week's SAS Championship, Russ Cochran, posted a 72 to drop into a tie for 24th at

Defending champion Fred Funk closed with a 70 to finish tied for 41st at even-par 210.

After flooding in July damaged the usual site of the tournament, the Jones Course, officials combined hole Nos. 10-18 from the neighboring Jackson Course for the front nine and Nos. 1-6 and 16-18 from Jones layout to create the home half for this year's event.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/champions/leaderboard.html.