Canadian Matt Hill wins Dakota Dunes Casino Open on fourth playoff hole

THE CANADIAN PRESS

SASKATOON — Matt Hill of Sarnia, Ont., outlasted Will Strickler in a playoff to become the first Canadian-born winner of the Dakota Dunes Casino Open on Sunday.

Hill, a former NCAA Individual Champion and the 2009 Jack Nicklaus award winner, made birdie on fourth extra hole to clinch his first victory as a professional and take home $24,000.

“It truly feels great to get my first win here,” said Hill. “I was proud of myself today for hanging in there and I all I kept telling myself was give yourself a chance.”

Hill is now a full member of the Canadian Tour. He also climbs to the top of the Order of Merit with $43,300 in earnings and is a step closer to claiming one of the two exemptions into the RBC Canadian Open.

Those exemptions are given to the top two Canadian Tour members following next week’s Players Cup in Winnipeg.

“I would obviously love to play in the Open but right now it’s not something I’m overly concerned with,” said Hill. “I’m going to enjoy this victory tonight and get back to work next week in Winnipeg.”

Hill had a chance to win in regulation after hitting a wedge to 12 feet on the par-5 18th hole. He missed, however, and went into the sudden-death playoff with Strickler, who lipped out an eagle putt on the final hole.

Both players finished at 19-under par.

Both players had pars on the first two playoff holes and then they each birdied the third.

Hill then two putted for birdie on the fourth, while Strickler needed to get up and down from a waste bunker behind the 18th green.

Strickler’s approach landed seven feet from the hole but the Dallas resident once again lipped out, giving Hill his first taste of victory.

Other notable scores on the final day of play included Joel Dahmen, who drained a 40-foot eagle putt on the final hole to finish in a tie for third with James Allenby of Langley, B.C.

Allenby had a chance of his own for eagle after landing his approach shot on the 18th to 10 feet. His eagle putt came up inches short, however, forcing the 2010 Most Improved Canadian to settle for birdie and an 18-under total.

Third-round leader Jose de Jesus Rodriguez fell victim to a cold putter, finishing with just three birdies and one bogey on his final round to tie Dahmen and Allenby.

23:22ET 08-07-12