Adamonis survives eight-hole playoff for first career victory  PGA TOUR Staff MIDLAND, Texas -- Brad Adamonis made a 4-foot putt for par on the eighth extra hole, emerging after a wild four-man playoff for his first career Nationwide Tour victory over Tjaart van der Walt, Vance Veazey and Ron Whittaker on Sunday at the WNB Golf Classic. Matching the second-longest playoff in Nationwide Tour history, the 34-year-old recorded eight consecutive pars during the playoff to survive.  Brad Adamonis carded eight straight pars in the playoff. (Badz/PGA TOUR/WireImage)
"I don't care -- any way I can get a win is great," Adamonis said. "I just kept on grinding. That's kind of the way I've always played my game. I just hung in there and finally I got a break in my career. The last three holes in regulation, I was very nervous. It's tremendous for me to get a win because I won't be as nervous, and I can play some better golf." The playoff began on the 18th hole. After Whittaker just missed a par putt and was eliminated on the first hole, the playoff cycled through Nos. 16-18. Veazey bogeyed the second hole, setting the stage for van der Walt and Adamonis to continue for six additional holes. On the final hole, van der Walt missed a 5-footer that would have continued the playoff. Adamonis credited his win to some remarkable advice from his good friend and fellow Nationwide Tour player Erik Compton. Two weeks ago, Compton, who had a heart transplant when he was 13 years old, wasn't feeling well after playing golf at his home course in Miami. After driving to a nearby hospital, he collapsed in the waiting room, where it was discovered that he suffered from a heart attack. Adamonis noted that Compton's condition has improved, but he will have more tests done to determine what they will do with his heart in the future. "I've been lucky to have Erik as a friend since I started playing out here," Adamonis said. "Every time I play golf with Erik, he helps me out and gives me great advice. He always tells me that I have the game and that I should never back down, even when I'm not playing my best. Today was definitely one of those days." Adamonis' previous best on the Nationwide Tour was a tie for third at last year's Northeast Pennsylvania Classic. The win moves him from No. 69 to No. 30 on the season money list. With three tournaments remaining, the Miami (Ohio) University graduate originally from Providence, R.I., could find himself inside THE 25 and earn his 2008 PGA TOUR card. But details like that were not the first things on his mind. "Erik's situation puts things into perspective," he said. "Here I am lucky enough to be healthy out here playing golf, and he is in a hospital. He keeps such a great attitude. It is pretty inspiring." The playoff is the longest on the Nationwide Tour since Ben Bates won the 2004 Reese's Cup Open. The longest playoff went nine holes at the 1998 Lehigh Valley Open, where Eric Booker defeated Notah Begay III. News and Notes: With a tie for 10th, Miguel Carballo moved from No. 27 to No. 24 on the money list and into THE 25. Carballo, whose victory earlier this year at the Movistar Panama Championship gave him status on the Nationwide Tour this season, moves back into THE 25 after spending much of the summer on the outside looking in. Franklin Langham is on the other side of the story as the University of Georgia graduate falls to No. 26. ... Brenden Pappas remains the man on the bubble at No. 25, only $432 in front of Langham. ... With his victory, Adamonis will likely earn a place in the season-ending TOUR Championship at Barona Creek outside San Diego. ... The final-round scoring average finished at 72.871, the highest final-round scoring average in tournament history. ... Monday qualifier Brian Guetz nearly joined the playoff to set a new Nationwide Tour record, but a three-putt on the 18th hole left him in a tie for fifth. But that finish earns him a spot in next week's Chattanooga Classic. ... Adamonis is the ninth player to earn his first career victory at this event. |
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