Sammamish golfer wins Sahalee Players Championship in a playoff

Kevin Penner of Las Vegas, Nev. birdied the 72nd hole to get into a three-way playoff with Chris Williams of Moscow, Idaho and Ben Geyer of Arbuckle, Calif., then birdied the first playoff hole to win the 19th Sahalee Players Championship (SPC), held at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash.

The three competitors played the 535-yard 18th hole in the playoff and all three were on the green in regulation. After Williams missed his 21-foot birdie attempt, Penner sank his 6-footer for birdie to put the pressure on Geyer, who saw his 4-foot try slide by the hole. This is the first playoff in the championship since Kyle Stanley won a four-way playoff in 2006.

Playing in the final group of the day with Williams and standing on the tee of the 535-yard par-5 18th tee during regulation, Penner was two shots behind leader Williams and a shot behind Ben Geyer, who was in the clubhouse at 9-under-par for the tournament after firing a blistering final round 6-under-par 66.

Penner had a large following in the gallery. He had attended nearby Eastlake High School, and Sahalee had been the home course for his golf team. “Yes, Chris was defending his title, but my friends were telling me that I was defending my turf.” It was a full-circle victory for Penner, who volunteered as a walking scorer at the 2006 SPC for eventual champion Kyle Stanley.