Mercier defeats Cloninger in three-hole playoff to win Chanticleer Senior

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Michael Mercier prevailed over Rick Cloninger in a three-hole playoff at the Chanticleer National Senior Invitational for his second win in two weeks. Mercier, of Rochester, N.Y., was victorious last weekend in the Senior division at the John T. Lupton Memorial Invitational. Both players were tied entering the final round, along with Bill Leonard, at three-over par. But Mercier and Cloninger separated themselves from the pack with rounds of 69 on Friday to share first place by five. After pars on the first two holes, Mercier made his third par in a row to triumph over the Fort Mill, S.C. native. Mercier's third round was bogey free, with birdies coming at 12, 13, and 15. Cloninger made a late-round surge to get into the playoff, birding three of his last four holes. Meanwhile Leonard, the other player in the final group, got off to a rough start with bogeys on three of his first four and doubles on 8 and 11. Defending champion Steve Sharpe took solo third place at six-over 222 after shooting a final-round 74. In the Super Senior division, Bob Desjardins edged David Crocker and Pete Allen for a one-shot win. Desjardins doubled the par-three 14th, but held on with closing pars on the last four holes. And in the Grand Master division, Don Wood shot a final-round 71 to win by six over Charlie Busbee. This 54-hole championship is conducted at Greenville Country club's Chanticleer Course (a Rees Jones design), site of the annual Chanticleer National Four-Ball Tournament.