Emiliano Grillo of Argentina survived what could have been a watery grave.
Grillo held a two-stroke lead on the final hole of regulation before hitting his drive into a stream of watery in a ditch and made a double-bogey 6 to cap a two-under-par 68, but then he sank a five-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to beat Adam Schenk in the 77th Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
“Even after the double on 18, I knew I still had a chance to win,” said Grillo, who claimed his second PGA Tour victory, but first since the 2015 Frys.com Open. “They say the second one is more difficult than the first, and in my experience, that certainly has been the case. This is great because I have had so much support from my family and friends. My wife had a baby 14 months ago and my perspective changed.
“I hit so many good shots today, especially those two on the 16th hole. It’s been such a ride, but it makes everything I’ve done the last few years completely worth it. I would like to have won it on the 72nd hole, of course, but winning any way is a great thing. It makes me think of where I came from.
“It’s been such a ride. I’m on top of the world right now.”
The 30-year-old Grillo, who also won the 2015 Web.com Championship, made six birdies in his round and took a two-stroke lead by sinking a 17-foot birdie putt on the 12th hole and a 20-footer at No. 16 before his double-bogey finish left him at eight-under-par 262.
Schenk, 31, who won twice on lower tours but was seeking his first PGA Tour victory, made his only birdie on the 16th hole in a 72 and missed a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole of regulation that would have given him the victory.
After both players parred the first playoff hole, Schenk missed the green on the par-3 second extra hole and never had the chance to putt.
“It was probably the hardest round of golf I’ve played,” said Schenk, who won the 2017 Lincoln Land Charity Classic on the Korn Ferry Tour. “The course is hard for everybody, but it was pushed to the limits. I hit that last tee shot just a little too and it just didn’t stay on the green, and I knew I was in trouble. It took off with no spin and just went a mile.
“I thought I played great all day, as tough as it was. I hit a poor shot on 10. Other than that, I wouldn’t take back any of the shots I hit. Unfortunately, I came up one short and didn’t get it done in the playoff. But Emiliano hit an amazing shot into No. 16. So he earned it.
“It would have been amazing to get it done, but maybe next time.”
Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler made a hole in one with a seven-iron from 189 yards on the eighth hole to highlight his 67 and finished one stroke behind in a tie for third with rookie Harry Hall, who led much of the way after opening with a 62, but after making birdies on the first to holes he had no more in a 73.
Paul Haley II, who has won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour, collected seen birdies in a 67 to finish two shots back in solo fifth, while defending champion Sam Burns birdied the last two holes for a 68 and was one more down in a tie for sixth with Rickie Fowler o Murrieta, who made his lone bogey at No. 17 in a 67, and Michael Kim of San Jose Diego and Cal, who carded a bogey-free 67.
Sixth-ranked Max Homa of Valencia and Cal had five birdies before making a double-bogey 6 on the 17th hole and his 69 left him four strokes back in a tie for ninth with Mark Hubbard, who made four birdies in a 69, and Kevin Streelman, who had two birdies and three bogeys in a 71.
Seventh-ranked Viktor Hovland of Norway played he last five holes in five-over-par and his 73 left him in a tie for 16th.
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