Leonard wins Texas Open for third time

Justin Leonard won the Texas Open for the third time Sunday, beating Jesper Parnevik with a 10-foot birdie putt on the third hole of a playoff.

Leonard, also the 2000 and ‘01 winner at LaCantera Golf Club Resort Course in San Antonio, closed with a 5-under 65 to match Parnevik at 19-under 261. Parnevik, who opened with a 61 and led after each of the first three rounds, finished with a 69.

Leonard had plenty of opportunities to win before finally finishing off Parnevik for his 11th PGA Tour title and first since 2005.

On the final hole of regulation, the Texan’s 14-foot birdie putt to win just slid by the hole. On the first extra hole, Parnevik took an unplayable lie after driving into the trees left of the fairway. But he hit a 153-yard approach to 3 feet to set up a par. Leonard chipped from the greenside rough to set up his par.

Leonard, 1-4 in playoffs after the victory, missed a 5-foot birdie putt on the second hole. Parnevik had a 28-footer for birdie to keep the playoff going on the third extra hole, but left it a foot short.

LPGA

Suzann Pettersen put her name above top-ranked Lorena Ochoa’s at long last, sinking a birdie putt from about 6 feet on the second playoff hole to win the Longs Drugs Challenge at Danville, Calif.

Pettersen, who began the day with a bogey, watched as Ochoa just missed a long putt from more than 20 feet before calmly making the winner and pumping her fist several times. They both birdied the first playoff hole, with Ochoa making an 18-footer.

Pettersen finished with a 1-over 73 to match Ochoa (71) at 11-under 277. Pettersen earned $165,000 for her third victory of the season.

Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., shot a 72 for a total of 290. Rathdrum’s Tracy Hanson shot 75 and finished at 293.

Champions Tour

Loren Roberts made four straight birdies during a sizzling front nine and cruised to victory in the Senior Players Championship at Timonium, Md., shooting a 3-under 67 to beat Tom Watson by six strokes.