Kim prolongs Gulbis' wait for first win in sudden death

Natalie Gulbis tried to mask the hurt inside.

"I'm always smiling. But it's very upsetting," Gulbis said after Mi Hyun Kim rolled in an 18-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole to beat her and win the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic in Sylvania, Ohio, on Sunday.

Gulbis, who often models for magazines and calendars, is followed everywhere by huge galleries and is one of the best-known players on the LPGA Tour. Still, she had never finished better than a tie for third in her 4 1/2 years on tour. The sudden-death defeat will likely amplify the questions about her ability to win.

Kim earned $180,000 for her second victory of the year and seventh in seven seasons on the tour. The South Korean also won the Ginn Clubs & Resort Open in April.

"She had soooo many fans!" Kim said. "I still cannot hear."

But Kim was emboldened by the fact that not everyone was cheering for Gulbis.

"I understand that I'm Korean and that many Americans fans are rooting for Natalie," Kim said. "I was happy that a few people said my name or my nickname, or 'Go Mi Hyun Kim."'

After birdieing six of her first 10 holes in the final round, Gulbis parred the last 11 despite having some terrific birdie opportunities.

It appeared Gulbis, who had five consecutive birdies on the front nine in the final round, had ended her drought when she stared down a 12-footer for birdie and the win on the second playoff hole. But she missed it.

After Kim hit her clutch putt on the final playoff hole, Gulbis was wide on a 9-foot putt to continue the playoff.

The three top finishers each closed with 6-under 65s, with Kim and Gulbis completing regulation at 18-under 266. Paula Creamer, who birdied Nos. 14, 15, 16 and 17 but missed a 12-footer at 18 that would have gotten her into the playoff.

PGA Tour

Australia's John Senden birdied the 17th hole and saved par on 18 to hold off J.P. Hayes and win the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill., earning his first PGA Tour victory and qualifying for the British Open.

Making his 139th tour start, Senden shot a 3-under 68 to finish at 19-under 265 and beat Hayes (65) by one stroke. Senden earned $720,000.

Alex Cejka (67) and Heath Slocum (68) tied for third at 16 under.

Champions Tour

Bobby Wadkins overcame a four-stroke deficit, 95-degree heat and a double bogey on the final hole to win the Senior Players Championship for his first major victory on the 50-and-older circuit in Dearborn, Mich.

The 54-year-old Wadkins shot a 4-under 68 -- making five straight birdies on the back nine -- to charge past third-round leader Loren Roberts and Jim Thorpe.

Wadkins, a three-time winner on the Champions Tour, was 14 under for the tournament

Thorpe (69) finished second at 13, and Roberts (74), Jay Haas (68) and Gil Morgan (69) tied for third at 12 under.

European PGA Tour

Sweden's Johan Edfors shot an 8-under 63 to beat England's Luke Donald and two others by two strokes in the Barclays Scottish Open in Luss, Scotland.

Edfors, also the TCL Classic and British Masters winner this season, finished with a 13-under 271 total on the Loch Lomond course. Donald shot a 66 to tie for second with South Africa's Charl Schwartzel (67) and Argentina's Andres Romero (69).

Ernie Els shot a 69 to finish four strokes back.

-- The Associated Press