William Rainey Prevails in Playoff at Rice Planters

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. — The 43rd Rice Planters Invitational ended Saturday in dramatic fashion. College of Charleston golfer William Rainey birdied the first sudden death playoff hole to take the title at 18-under par. Rainey entered the final round tied with Clemson junior Austin Langdale, three-shots ahead of the field. The pair was neck-and-neck throughout the final round until Langdale grabbed a one-shot lead with a birdie at the par-5 13th. However, Langdale gave two shots back with bogeys on 15 and 17 and went into the 18th hole one back of Rainey. "I was just trying to play my game and not focus on anything else," Rainey said. "It was hard not to focus on what Austin was doing because we were playing together but I just tried to stay calm and have some fun out there. Langdale was up for the challenge as he made a clutch birdie on the 414-yard 18th hole to force a playoff. On the first playoff hole, Langdale had a birdie look from 20 feet with Rainey in tight at four feet, after a clutch approach shot from the middle of the fairway. Langdale missed his birdie and missed the come-backer (which was still outside Rainy's birdie putt) for par. That left Rainy with two putts for the victory and the Charlotte, N.C. native only needed one to make birdie and wrap it up. "I will take a lot of confidence from this," Rainey affirmed. "Coming down the stretch was really nervous but kept hitting solid shots. I was thrilled with the way I played and can't wait to build off this win". Oklahoma State’s Hayden Wood tied for third with Auburn’s Will Long and Clemson commit, Bryson Nimmer. The trio finished at 14-under par, 4 shots back of Rainey and Langdale.