Kite bests wild Fergus in playoff

Tom Kite took advantage of a wildly erratic Keith Fergus, who hit two spectators and the cartpath three separate times Sunday during the one-hole playoff, to win the Boeing Greater Seattle Classic at Snoqualmie, Wash.

Kite, who began the day three behind second-round leader Don Pooley, shot a 6-under 66 to finish with a three-day score of 15-under 201. Fergus started five shots behind Pooley and reached 15-under with a 64.

Kite birdied the first playoff hole, the par-5, 554-yard No. 18, while Fergus bogeyed. It was Kite’s ninth career Champions Tour victory – third in a playoff – and a $240,000 first-place check.

Pooley had a chance to join the playoff but missed a 14-foot birdie try on 18. He finished with a 70, one back in a group with Scott Simpson (69), Wayne Levi (66), David Edwards (66) and Tom Jenkins – who had an 11-under 61, his career low. Jenkins’ nine-birdies, one-eagle round matched the course record set Saturday by Simpson.

With five holes to play, seven players were tied at 14-under on the TPC at Snoqualmie Ridge course. Kite then broke from the pack with a birdie on No. 15. At the same time, Fergus was finishing his round with a birdie on 18, just missing an eagle.

LPGA Tour

Pat Hurst shot a final round 4-under 68 and held off Jeong Jang to win the Safeway Classic at Portland.

Hurst finished with a 10-under 206 on the par-72, 6,327 yard course near Portland International Airport.

She watched solemnly as Jang, who was at 9 under, missed an 18-foot-birdie putt on the par-4 No. 18 hole that would have forced a playoff.

Jang finished with a 70 for a 9-under 207, along with Kim Saiki, who shot a 67 on Sunday. Juli Inkster had a 70 to finish at 208.

It was Hurst’s fifth victory on the LPGA Tour and first since last year’s State Farm Classic. She lost to Annika Sorenstam in an 18-hole playoff at this year’s U.S. Women’s Open.