Published: June 26, 2009 11:10 pm      

West Virginia Open

Bradshaw beats Ross in a playoff

WHEELING — David Bradshaw found some life in his putter to win his fourth West Virginia Open.

By Bradshaw’s own account, he could not make a putt all day. With a one-stroke lead on the final hole of the three-hole playoff Friday, he drained an 8-foot birdie to hold off John Ross, who was 2 feet away from a possible tie.

“I made one putt today, and that was enough on the last hole,” a relieved Bradshaw said. “That’s all it takes.”

Ross and Bradshaw had finished the third round tied at 2-under-par on Oglebay Resort’s Palmer Course.

During the round, three of Bradshaw’s putts lipped out — two for birdie and another for par. He also missed a straight 3-footer for birdie on the 16th hole that would have given him the outright lead at 3 under par.

Even the putting green was unkind to Bradshaw before the playoff began. Taking about 10 swings from 10 feet on the practice green above the first tee, not one went in and four rimmed out of the hole, an all-too familiar sight for the now four-time time Open champion.

“Some days you got it and some you don’t,” Bradshaw said. “The putter has always been my biggest struggle, and it’s what has kept me off the tour. I’m a good enough ball striker and I know it. I have to get a little better with my wedges, and I have to get a lot better putting.”

The 57-year-old Ross, a Freeman pro who won the Open in 1997 and 1999, shot a 4 under-par 67 to move into contention after starting the day at 2 over. Ross’ round included six birdies, with three coming in the final seven holes of regulation.

Ross, playing ahead of Bradshaw, had a chance to take the lead on the 18th hole of regulation. His drive was just short of the green on the 291-yard par 4, but he missed his birdie putt to force the playoff.

“I’m thinking that David is going to birdie 18. It’s a risk-reward hole,” Ross said about his approach. “You can lay up and play it with a lob wedge or try and drive the green. I ended up a couple of yards short and couldn’t make birdie. Just to have a chance to win is a good feeling.”

Ross scrambled for par from the bunker on the first hole of the playoff to stay even with Bradshaw into the second hole of the playoff — a par 5. From the middle of the fairway, Bradshaw hit on the green in two shots and made birdie.

“It was essential that I hit the second green in two,” said Bradshaw, a Harpers Ferry native. “That was the biggest shot for me because I could just not find the hole.”

Charleston’s Bosten Miller finished third at 1 under and four others tied for fourth place at even par. Miller, a rising Marshall University sophomore, played in the final group with Bradshaw and Bob Friend and was 3 over through two holes but rebounded with six birdies.

“It’s a great experience because come next year I’ll be in the same spot and I guarantee I won’t do something like four putt No. 2. It’s just another level of golf,” Miller said.

It was the first time an Open was decided in a playoff between two former champions since Brad Westfall defeated Scott Davis in 1994 on Oglebay’s Speidel Course.

“It’s such a good feeling to win, and it’s such a good feeling to come back here,” said Bradshaw, who earned $6,000. “There is a lot of camaraderie in the West Virginia Open. I’ve played many tours and it’s cutthroat out there.”