SILVIS, Illinois, 18 July 2006 — Australia’s John Senden recorded his first USPGA Tour win on Sunday at the John Deere Classic and clinched a berth in the British Open.

Senden moved atop the leaderboard for good with a birdie on the 17th hole and parred the 18th after an impressive bunker shot to win the $4 million event.

An Australian who entered the tournament with three international victories, Senden carded a three-under-par 68 at the Deere Run course to finish at 19-under 265 and edge America’s J.P. Hayes by one stroke. Senden led all day until Hayes — playing a group ahead of him — birdied the par-5 17th to move to move into a tie at 18-under. But Senden matched Hayes’ birdie to move to 19-under, then delivered his clutch bunker shot on the final hole, setting up an easy par putt to clinch his first PGA Tour title and a spot in next week’s British Open at Royal Liverpool.

“My actual lie in the bunker was a beautiful lie, an uphill lie,” Senden said.

The Australian entered this week with eight top-10 finishes in 138 PGA starts. His best career finish was fifth in the last two Bob Hope Classics. “Being a winner on Tour is a different kettle of fish,” said Senden, the fifth different Aussie to win this season. “It is ... not a monkey off your back, but something that is a dream that you can go out there and say, ‘Hey, look, I am a PGA Tour winner now. It is really exciting.” German Alex Cejka and American Heath Slocum finished in a tie for third at 16-under.

Hayes, who won here in 2002 for his second and last PGA Tour title, recorded seven birdies and a bogey en route to a closing 65.

His round could have been even better, but he narrowly missed an eagle putt at No. 17 that would have given him a one-shot lead.

“Some of the greens out here are difficult to read,” Hayes said. “For me, that is one of them. I was unsure of the read.” He had made just three cuts in eight events this year and was 203rd on the money list with $69,208 in earnings, but he took home $432,000 Sunday. Defending champion Sean O’Hair finished in a tie for 39th, 11 shots off the pace.

Kim Edges Gulbis in Playoff at Jamie Farr Classic

In Sylvania, Ohio, South Korea’s Mi Hyun-kim rallied late to catch Natalie Gulbis and outlasted her on the third playoff hole Sunday to win the $1.2 million LPGA Jamie Farr Classic.

American Gulbis appeared to be on the verge of capturing her elusive first title. She held a two-shot lead with three holes left in regulation before being run down by Kim. “I won and I got a trophy,” Kim said. “So I’m very happy.

The 29-year-old Kim used birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 to force the playoff, somewhere Gulbis never had been in her four-year career. The 29-year-old South Korean had been 1-3 in playoffs. With plenty of drama, Kim and Gulbis, 23, each settled for pars on the first two playoff holes. Back at par-5 18th, Gulbis looked to be in better position for the win after hitting her third shot inside of Kim’s on the green.

However, Kim calmly sank her birdie putt from about 12 feet, squarely putting the pressure on Gulbis. From just inside 10 feet, Gulbis’ putt sailed just wide, giving Kim the victory.

American Paula Creamer also shot a 65 to finish one shot back. The reigning LPGA Rookie of Year narrowly missed making it a three-way playoff when she just missed a birdie putt at No. 18. South Korean Se Ri Pak, who was looking to join Hall of Famers Annika Sorenstam and Mickey Wright as the only players to win the same event five times, finished alone in fourth at 16-under after shooting a 66.

The best female player in the world, Sorenstam (70) finished in eighth.