Aug 4, 2003 By Justin Zackal For The 5 min read

The scorecards documented the longest and most exciting round of golf in the Fayette County Open’s 15-year existence. But after the dueling leaders wrote a few extra chapters to the saga, only the expression on Brian Galica’s face punctuated the tournament with a resounding: THE END!

Galica and defending-champion Pat Calvaresi, tied after the fourth and final round at Duck Hollow Golf Club Sunday, remained deadlocked after a four-hole playoff and the first hole of sudden death.

Then came Galica’s pinpoint drive onto the No. 2 green. And finally, releasing the entire day’s tension in one gasp, Galica sank a 15-foot putt for eagle to claim his first Fayette Open title.

“It felt like a storybook ending,” Galica said. “Everything from the drive on the green, that was not an ordinary way for it to happen. I was thrilled.”

Massaging Galica’s confidence during the second sudden death hole was Calvaresi’s drive, which sailed left hitting a cart in the gallery. Despite Calvaresi chipping onto the fringe on his next shot, Galica had the win within his grips – it just came a shot sooner than expected.

“I thought I hit it too hard,” Galica said. “But after it rolled five feet, I knew it was straight in.

“I was relaxed and confident (on the last putt). It was a long day and I’m happy it worked out the way it did.”

Calvaresi, who parred seven-straight holes including the playoff, was pleased with his game despite losing the second sudden death.

“I was trying to hit it harder, so maybe it was a little adrenaline,” Calvaresi said of his drive. “That was the first shot I hit left of the target all day, but I was able to hit a good shot to give myself a chance. That’s all you can do; sometimes it’s just not in the cards.”

Calvaresi was four strokes behind Galica and two behind Brandon Katzeff coming into the final round. After an impressive 31 on the front nine, Calvaresi vaulted himself atop the leader board before completing the day with a round-best 70. Galica, who carded a 74 in the final round, was able to hold off Calvaresi, as the two completed the round tied with a four-day total of 293, followed by Katzeff with 294 and seven-time champion John Kingora with 295.

Kingora turned in a fourth-round score of 71, but did not compete with the lead threesome of Galica, Calvaresi and Katzeff, who were tied for most of the back nine. Galica actually fell four shots behind Calvaresi on the front nine after shooting a 39, but managed to stay in contention when Calvaresi bogied Nos. 10 and 13.

Galica thought he caught a break on No. 14 when, after a nice drive clearing the green into a bush, he chipped onto the green. He, however, ended up three-putting from three feet out.

“(The shot onto the green) was the greatest shot I hit all week, but still it didn’t do anything for me,” Galica said. “That’s when the pressure started.”

Katzeff was the first victim. He three-putted on No. 17, which eventually gave Calvaresi a one-stroke lead going into the final hole.

“I played well all around,” Katzeff said. “Today my short game was a little off. That cost me. (No. 17) was a pressure put, and I thought it was straight in, but it caught the lip of the cup.”

Galica forced the playoff round on No. 18 with his 15-foot putt for birdie. Both Galica and Katzeff drove for the green on 18, while Calvaresi would lay up and make par.

“Brian and Brandon played through their mistakes,” Calvaresi said. “I stepped my game up and they fed off me and I fed off them. My hat goes off to them.”

“We just kept putting pressure on each other,” Katzeff said. “It was just a great experience all week. I knew I had to play well and shoot even par. If I would’ve shot even par, I would’ve been in the playoff. I just couldn’t come through.”

Galica and Calvaresi played nip and tuck in the four-hole playoff, which consisted of the No. 1, 2, 11, 12 holes. Calvaresi hit par on all four holes, while Galica birdied 2 and bogied 11.

“I liked the four-hole playoff,” Calvaresi said. “It takes away from the fact that one bad shot could hurt you. Brian just beat me; I know that I didn’t beat myself.”

Galica forced a sudden death after he successfully chipped on from the rough on the left side and putted in for par, while Calvaresi only had to putt from the fringe following his tee shot.

When the marathon came back to Nos. 1 and 2 for sudden death, Galica grew a liking the links, especially No. 2, which he birdied twice before the decisive eagle.

“I never would’ve thought I’d play that hole three times,” Galica added. “It was definitely being friendly to me.”

Rounding out the top five behind fourth-place Kingora, were Justin Goletz and John Lenkey, who shot 78s and 75s, respectively, to finish in a fifth-place tie for the event at 307. Rebounding from a first-round score of 82 at Uniontown Country Club on Friday, former champion Bernie Wydo captured seventh with a 75 on Sunday, his same score as Saturday at Duck Hollow, to finish at 309.