Jason Rackard survived a titanic battle with Robert Brazill to claim the Kilkenny Senior Scratch Cup after a three-hole playoff on Saturday.
Both players went toe to toe with each other for much of the day and it was Rackard who saw off the Connacht Strokeplay champion after 39 holes in Kilkenny Golf Club.
It was Naas man Brazill who led the way after the opening 18 in the morning after a superb five-under 66 which included three successive birdies to finish after eagling the par-5 14th.
Brazill found the going tough in the afternoon and had to birdie the last to make the playoff with Rackard after a two-over 73.
The former West of Ireland winner found himself three-over for the second round after eleven holes before picking up a birdie on 14.
A bogey on the par-3 17th left him in danger of gifting the title to Rackard but a birdie at the last forced extra time.
Rackard posted four successive birdies on the front nine to shoot a morning 67 before a one-over 72 saw him set the clubhouse target briefly on three-under-par.
Rackard turned in 36 after two bogeys in four holes and back-to-back birdies to the turn.
He recovered well from a double bogey six on 11 with two birdies in three holes before dropping one on the par-3 15th.
The high standard continued in the playoff and Rackard birdied two of the three extra holes to finally shake off Brazill.
It was a two-horse race for the afternoon despite impressive afternoon rounds from Ross McCormack and Eddie Power who shared third on three-over after second rounds of 70.
The best score of the afternoon went to Donnacha Clearly who shot a 69 for a four-over total in fifth.
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