Sun Apr 6 23:18:42 2008

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Price wins first Nationwide title

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Livermore, CA (Sports Network) - Aron Price needed two playoff holes Sunday to defeat J.J. Killeen and win the Livermore Valley Wine Championship.

Price, who earned his first tour title, closed with an even-par 72 to match Killeen at five-under-par 283.

"I feel relieved. I've been working hard on some swing changes the past months and it's good to know the hard work pays off," said the Australian Price, who earned $108,000 for the win.

Killeen, who was also going for his first tour crown, struggled to a four-over 76 in breezy conditions Sunday.

Price has had a strong showing at this event. He shared second place here last year, two strokes behind winner Omar Uresti.

Killeen and Price played the 18th twice in the playoff. Both players parred the hole the first time around, then Price claimed the title with another par as Killeen faltered to a bogey.

"I felt terrible for him," said Price of Killeen, who missed a three-foot par putt to lose the playoff.

Joe Daley closed with a one-over 73 to end alone in third at four-under-par 284. Colt Knost was the final player in red figures at minus-one after shooting even-par 72 in the final round.

Price teed off one group ahead of Killeen. He dropped a shot on the fifth to fall to minus-four.

Killeen, meanwhile, bogeyed the fourth, but birdied the fifth to get back to nine-under.

Over the next three holes, Price's deficit was cut to two. He birdied seven and eight to move to six-under, while Killeen dropped to minus-eight with a bogey on the seventh.

Both players bogeyed the par-three 11th, but Killeen's problems weren't done. He stumbled to bogeys at 13 and 14 to drop into a share of the lead at minus- five.

Price took his first lead of the final round with a birdie on the par-five 15th. However, he tripped to a bogey at the last to end at five-under.

Killeen parred the final four holes to force the extra session.

"I had a couple of rough holes down the stretch, but I'm proud of the way I played," Killeen stated. "I'm disappointed to lose. I wish I could have holed a couple of more putts and that's all it would have taken. One more."

Fran Quinn (72) and Chris Nallen (73) shared fifth place at even-par 288. Tom Gillis and Dicky Pride were one stroke back at plus-one.

Chris Tidland, Ricky Barnes and Marc Leishman finished in a tie for ninth at two-over-par 290.