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LAKEWOOD RANCH – After grinding out 72 holes of tournament play, Neal Shipley of Pittsburgh and South Korea’s Seungtaek Lee wound up playing golf’s version of Groundhog Day.
The pair needed five playoff holes to determine this year’s champion at the LECOM Suncoast Classic after they finished their four rounds at 18-under par 266.
All five playoff holes were played on No. 18 at Lakewood National Golf Club, where the Korn Ferry Tour has made the tournament a regular stop for the past seven years.
Shipley, 24, finally settled the matter on Saturday, April 19, to win his first professional tournament. But he needed a 38-foot birdie putt on the fifth playoff hole to do so. Both golfers played the 18th six times on Saturday, including their regular round.
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“I had to make some clutch putts,” Shipley said. “When that last one went in, I kind of went berserk. You practice for moments like that.”
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The players showed some nervousness as they each bogeyed the first playoff hole. Each player made par on the next three playoff holes on No. 18. Shipley kept his title hopes alive on the third playoff hole by saving par with a 15-foot putt.
The victory will help Shipley when it comes to finishing in the top 20 in Korn Ferry Points when the season comes to a close in the fall. The top 20 receive PGA Tour Cards for the 2026 season.
“This puts me in great position for the rest of the year,” the former Ohio State star said. “It’s great to get that first win.
“But I will just let the golf take care of itself. If I play good golf, it will get the job done.”
Shipley fired a final round of 7-under par 64 to qualify for the playoff. His final round included five straight birdies as he birdied seven of eight holes.
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“I got really hot there making the turn,” Shipley said. “I hit really good golf shots into 7, 8, and 9. I made a good up and down on 10. I did the same on No. 12.
“I just had a couple of mistakes out there. But overall, I’m really pleased with shooting 7-under, especially in this kind of wind.”
The 29-year-old Lee shot a 66 on Saturday. He entered the week ranked No. 16 in Korn Ferry Points. His runner-up finish will strengthen his chances for a PGA Tour Card by the end of the season.
Hank Leboida, an Orlando resident who played golf at Florida State, finished in third place at 17-under. Marcelo Rozo of Columbia, Kyle Westmoreland, a 33-year-old graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, and Trey Winstead, a New Orleans resident who played at LSU, finished in a three-way tie for third at 16-under.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Korn Ferry Tour: After 5 playoff holes, Neal Shipley beat Seungtaek Lee at Suncoast Classic
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