A last minute decision by Todd Fischer to play this week, rather than take a much needed break, paid dividends in the form of his first win on the Buy.Com Tour. The win has catapulted him to fourth on the money list and now well in contention for a spot on the PGA Tour next season.

Fischer, who had played eleven consecutive events leading into this week, was planning on taking a break for this event but changed his mind and he now becomes the twelfth first time winner on tour this year.

Australian Gavin Coles stopped a run of ordinary performances of late, following his win in Adelaide, and his tie for second has moved him to ninth on the money list.

Craig Spence, long in the wilderness with his game, had a welcome return to form with his fifth place after leading into the final round with Fischer. Spence who gained his US Tour card two years ago, and looked a player of immense promise at that time, has struggled and does not have a card to play anywhere at present. He is currently Monday qualifying for spots on the Buy.Com Tour and this appearance has come as a result of that. There is a lot to admire about the fortitude and determination of Craig Spence. Ben Ferguson was 10th.Second year player Bob Gilder watched in wonderment as the Seniors Tour greatest player self destructed in the first hole of a sudden death playoff in Chicago.

Gilder, who was rookie of the year last season following his win at the Tour Championship, has made further progress this year without winning until today. Gilder now has $US1,090,000 this year and will move to sixth on the money list.

Irwin had come from a long way back with a last round six under 66 to get a share of the lead but fell apart in the playoff, taking six shots to reach the green at the par five eighteenth after visiting the rough and the water.

Bruce Fleisher, now over his cancer scare, also fired a last round 66 for third with Rodger Davis in fourth earning a cheque for $US87,000 Tony Johnstone began the fifth day of this event with a three stroke lead over Ernie Els with both players having ten holes to complete today.

Play restarted this morning and twice Els caught Johnstone with three early birdies

A birdie for Johnstone on the 17th proved critical, giving him a one stroke lead going into the final hole. Renowned as an excellent bunker player, Johnstone played a magnificent trap shot on the 18th to secure his par and victory from Els who bogeyed the last.

World Number Three Greg Norman didn\'t make it to the tenth tee to resume his final round and was disqualified.