Rackley wins Haverford Phila. PGA Classic - and $100,000

Josh Rackley had stroked a par putt like the one he had Tuesday on the second playoff hole of the Haverford Philadelphia PGA Classic hundreds of times before - eight feet, up the hill, dead straight. It's what he called "the easiest putt you'll ever have."

But this was the first time he ever hit a putt like that with $100,000 on the line.

"I was extremely nervous over it," the Gulph Mills Golf Club assistant pro said. "But somehow it went in."

And when Jamie Komancheck of RiverCrest, his opponent in the sudden-death playoff, saw his four-foot par putt slide by on the tricky 18th green of Sunnybrook Golf Club, Rackley took home the massive $100,000 first-prize check, the largest payout for a one-day event of any PGA of America section in the country.

"I don't think it's going to hit me until tonight when I go out with all my friends in Philadelphia," Rackley said. "I'm extremely pleased to have played in this event."

Rackley, 25, a North Carolina State graduate, and Komancheck, who just made it into the field, each shot 2-under-par 70s that held up the entire day. Three players had a chance to better that score, or at least grab a berth in the playoff, but could not get there.

Through all the close calls - Andy Fisher of Frosty Valley and Michael Little of Lookaway both had it to 4-under par on the front nine, Jakob Gerney of Trump National-Philadelphia saw his birdie putt to tie on the 18th burn the left lip of the cup - the tournament came down to two men playing the 18th over and over until a winner was declared.

Komancheck shocked the huge gallery on the first playoff hole when, with Rackley needing only a tap-in for par and the win, he drained a 12-footer for par after he hit his approach in the bunker.

Komancheck had the advantage on the second playoff hole, needing to sink a 10-footer for birdie while Rackley had a slippery 18-footer that wound up sliding eight feet past. But Komancheck's putt ran over the lip without dropping.

"He hit a great putt for the win," Rackley said.

But after Rackley made his par, he watched as Komancheck missed. Instead of the grand six-figure prize, he had to settle for second-place money of $5,000.

"I thought I had made the first putt for birdie," he said. "I think on the second one I should have taken a little more time and looked at it from the other side, but I thought I had a good line. I just made a bad stroke. That's the way it goes sometime in golf."

Top finishers

x-Josh Rackley, Gulph Mills . . . 36-34-70

Jamie Komancheck, RiverCrest. . . 34-36-70

Jakob Gerney, Trump Natl.-Phila.. . . 35-36-71

John Pillar, Woodloch Springs. . . 37-34-71

Andy Fisher, Frosty Valley. . . 32-39-71

Robby Bruns, Merion. . . 38-33-71

Rich Steinmetz, Spring-Ford. . . 35-37-72

SR-Brian Kelly, Bucknell. . . 36-36-72

Matt Goudie, Lancaster. . . 37-36-73

John Cooper, Green Valley. . . 37-36-73

Pat Butkus, Philadelphia CC. . . 36-37-73

John Appleget, Wildwood. . . 36-37-73

Scott Reilly, Philadelphia CC. . . 35-38-73

Dave McNabb, Applebrook . . . 34-39-73

John DiMarco, Laurel Creek. . . 36-37-73

Barry Dear, Twisted Dune . . . 36-37-73

Chris Krueger, Kings Creek . . . 36-37-73

Mike Meisenzahl, Shore Gate . . . 34-39-73

Shawn Matthews, Squires . . . 35-38-73

x-Won sudden-death playoff on 2d hole

SR-Senior champion