Forster wins Phila. PGA Championship in playoff

It took some extra work for George Forster, but he found his way into the Philadelphia Section PGA record books on Thursday.

Forster, the head pro at Radnor Valley Country Club in Villanova, sank an eight-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole to defeat Stu Ingraham and capture the Philadelphia PGA Championship at Llanerch Country Club in Havertown.

With the victory, at age 58, Forster became the oldest player ever to win the section's premier event, beating out Marty Furgol, who won in 1970 at 54. He also did it 15 years after his previous section championship.

"When I won the section championship then, that was the biggest win in my career and still was until today," Forster said. "The kids today hit it so far. I can contend, but I really didn't know if I could win it again."

Forster shot a 1-under-par 70 on Thursday and posted a 1-over score of 214 for 54 holes. It didn't look as if it would be enough after Ingraham, a two-time section champion from M-Golf playing about 30 minutes behind Forster, went to the 18th tee with a 2-stroke lead.

But Ingraham found a divot with his tee shot and his second shot came up short of the green. From a tough downhill lie in the rough, he blasted out just to get on the green but then three-putted, missing a six-footer for the win.

In the playoff, in which the two contestants played the 18th hole three more times, Ingraham twice missed a pair of eight-foot birdie putts. The third time, Ingraham missed from 10 feet, and Forster drained the winner.

"It's just a matter of execution, and you need some luck to win," Forster said. "I had some luck."

Top finishers

(All advance to the 2015 PGA Professional National Championship)

George Forster, Radnor Valley . . . 71-73-70-214*

Stu Ingraham, M-Golf . . . 70-72-72-214

John Pillar, Woodloch Springs . . . 72-73-70-215

Rusty Harbold, Lancaster . . . 72-70-73-215

Patrick Clark, Aronimink . . . 75-71-70-216

Josh Rackley, Gulph Mills . . . 73-70-73-216

x-Dave McNabb, Applebrook . . . 71-70-75-216

Robby Bruns, Merion . . . 72-72-73-217

Dave Quinn, Links . . . 70-72-75-217

Don Allan, Burlington . . . 73-69-75-217

Mike Moses, Concord . . . 65-76-76-217

John Lynch, Peninsula . . . 70-75-73-218

Mark Sheftic, Merion . . . 69-74-75-218

*-Won on third hole of playoff

x-Already earned exemption into field