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Herman bests Kirk in Moonah Classic playoff

Sat 6th, February 2010

Victoria, Australia (Sports Network) - Jim Herman owned at least a share of the lead after each of the first three rounds, but needed an extra hole Sunday to walk off with the title at the Moonah Classic.

Herman birdied the first playoff hole to defeat his third-round co-leader Chris Kirk to claim his first Nationwide Tour title.

"I am overwhelmed. I've been waiting for this to happen for a long time, a professional win," admitted Herman, who earned $126,000 for the victory. "I've won on a couple of other levels, but not this high a level."

Herman, who had missed seven straight cuts dating to the end of last season, and Kirk both closed with two-under 70s to finish at 11-under-par 277.

They returned to the 18th hole for the playoff and Herman converted a six-foot birdie putt to become the season's second first-time winner.

"I am just so pleased with how I hung in today," said Herman. "I take my hat off to Chris, he played fabulous all week. Today, he played great, but he let me back in on 16 and 17 and I took advantage of it."

Last week's winner, Robert Gates, closed with a six-under 66 on the Open Course at Moonah Links to miss the playoff by a single stroke at minus-10.

Jarrod Lyle, who defeated Kirk in playoff at the 2008 Knoxville Open, shot four-under 68 to share fourth place with Tag Ridings (67) at nine-under 279.

Kirk looked as though he was going to collect his first Nationwide Tour title as he led by two shots with three holes to go. However, he stumbled to bogeys on 16 and 17 to drop into a share of the lead with Herman. They parred the par-five 18th and it was off to the playoff.

The 24-year-old Kirk grabbed the early lead with birdies on two and four. Herman stumbled to a bogey on five, but Kirk's lead was still two over Lyle.

Herman rebounded with a birdie on the sixth and he later birdied the ninth to get within one. Kirk parred nine consecutive holes from the fifth and Herman made five straight pars from the 10th.

Kirk pushed his cushion back to two with a birdie on 14 before they both birdied the par-five 15th. Kirk stumbled into the clubhouse for his second playoff loss on the Nationwide Tour.

Manuel Villegas closed with a five-under 67 to take sixth at eight-under-par 280. Andrew Dodt (70) was one stroke back at minus-seven. Jeff Brehaut (68) and Martin Piller (68) shared eighth at minus-six.

NOTES: Alistair Presnell, the 2009 winner, stumbled to a one-over 73 to share 15th place at minus-four...The Nationwide Tour is off the next two weeks before returning to action at the Panama Championship, where Vance Veazey won last year.