Case Cochran gets Nelson spot with walk-off playoff hole-in-one
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Case Cochran gets Nelson spot with walk-off playoff hole-in-one

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Case Cochran returned to The Lakes at Castle Hills near Dallas on Tuesday morning, looking to survive a four-for-three playoff to get into this week's HP Byron Nelson Championship. He'd be in for a fight, as Monday qualifiers -- even ones that end on Tuesday -- tend to be.

After four playoff holes failed to decide the matter, Cochran took his fate into his own hands from 152 yards on the par-3 16th hole, the fifth playoff hole. Cochran's 7-iron found the bottom of the cup for a hole-in-one, guaranteeing him a spot in the field this week.

Cochran is son of Champions Tour player and senior major winner Russ Cochran, who got a jubilant phone call after the playoff ended.

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"He told me he didn't see it go in," said Russ Cochran, according to PGATour.com. "Once he got on the green, he saw his ball mark 6 feet from the hole and had a good feeling. Sure enough, it was in the hole."

Cochran's ace locked out Chris Parra, who was battling for the remaining of the three Nelson spots. Jason Allred sunk a 40-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole, No. 10, to earn his place. Chris Thompson made a kick-in birdie on No. 12 after a wedge approach to secure a spot. Parra was odd man out among the quartet that shot 69 in the 18-hole qualifier.

The younger Cochran, 25, played his college golf at Texas A&M, turning pro a little over a year ago. He's been playing the Adams Pro Tour.

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