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Van Pelt wins in a playoff

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The Associated Press

Published: July 20, 2009

MILWAUKEE - Bo Van Pelt started laughing just before his final putt.

He thought back to all those times on his couch with his golfing buddies watching a pro fail in the clutch with a seemingly easy opportunity. Now, he'd left a second putt a little too far for comfort.

"Twenty feet, two putts to win, I'd get that done no problem, like that'd be the easiest thing," Van Pelt said. "Sure enough, that's what I had and, sure enough, I leave it 3 feet short."

Turns out, it was just the right distance.

Van Pelt won for the first time on the PGA Tour in 229 starts with a 3-foot birdie on the second hole of a sudden death playoff against John Mallinger on Sunday at the U.S. Bank Championship and put 10 years of frustration behind him.

"It got to the point where I don't even know if I wanted to play anymore a couple of years ago," Van Pelt said. "Because I felt like I kept putting myself in these positions and it wasn't ever happening. It was definitely frustrating."

On the second playoff hole, the 29-year-old Mallinger rolled his second shot in a greenside bunker. Mallinger got out, but left himself a 28-footer for birdie that he pushed right of the hole and settled for par.

That would be plenty for Van Pelt, who had a chance on the first hole - also No. 18 - to end it, but looked nervous and missed a 13-foot eagle putt. He settled for a tap-in birdie to put the pressure on Mallinger, who made a 5-footer setting up the final scramble.

RHODEN WINS: Defending champion Rick Rhoden held on to claim a record eighth victory at the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship in Stateline, Nev., after Dan Quinn's comeback attempt ended with a shot into the pond guarding the 18th hole.

Rhoden, the former All-Star pitcher, shot a 2-over 74 that was good enough to claim the $125,000 winner's check at Lake Tahoe.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who led after the first round, shot a 1-under 71 to finish second.

Quinn was within one of Rhoden headed for No. 18, but finished with a double bogey that left the former hockey player in a tie for third with ex-quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver.

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