“Awesome. That’s all I can say. I’m on top of the world,” said Swan, who saw Laydon whittle a five-shot deficit over the final nine holes to force a playoff after the two competitors tied in regulation at 8-under-par 208.

Swan, who just completed his sophomore season at Charleston Southern, finally won the tournament with a birdie on the second hole of sudden death.

“Whew, those old guys never quit,” Swan joked at the 38-year-old Laydon, a financial consultant in Charleston. “He never quit. He just kept coming at me.”

Swan, who led the tournament from start to finish and held a three-stroke lead over Laydon going into the final round, made three early birdies and shot 34 to Laydon’s 36 on the front nine. But Swan couldn’t make a birdie on the back nine and shot 1-over 37. That opened the door for Laydon, who fired a 32 to catch Swan.

On the 17th hole, both players just missed birdie chances. On the 18th, Swan seemed to have the advantage after Laydon hooked his tee shot, punched his approach short of the green and then chipped 10 feet past the hole. But Laydon nailed the par putt to force extra holes.

Swan again seemed to be in position to win on the first playoff hole when Laydon hooked his approach shot dangerously close to the water.

“It was by the hazard line and I thought, ‘Why not chip it in?’ ” said Laydon, who almost holed the shot to match Swan’s par and send the two golfers to the par-5 second hole.

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