Showdown on the Futures Tour: Tiffany Joh vs. Gerina Mendoza

Tiffany Joh was 5 shots down on Gerina Mendoza heading into today's final round at the ING New England Golf Classic, but she birdied 3 holes in a row early on the front and with a birdie on the par-4 14th she actually took a 1-shot lead on Mendoza, whose bogey on that hole was her 5th in her last 11 holes. But Mendoza birdied 18 just as she had birdied 1 to force a playoff at -10. We know Libby Smith (67) is 3rd at -7 and Jane Rah (65), Jenny Shin (68), and Lehua Wise (72) are at -6, but we don't yet know who the winner is.

[Update 1 (4:58 pm): The real-time scoreboard says both drives are in the fairway.]

[Update 2 (5:01 pm): T-Joh 23 feet right of pin, Mendoza on front fringe after spinning it back off the green. At least that's what I think "hits front of green and spins back 2 inches" means.]

[Update 3 (5:02 pm): Charlotte Mayorkas reads that the same way.]

[Update 4 (5:04 pm): You know T-Joh's cool b/c she has such sweet friends. Here's Mariajo Uribe from Evian!]

[Update 5 (5:05 pm): T-Joh 2-putted; Mendoza has a 2-footer to extend the playoff.]

[Update 6 (5:07 pm): Back to the 18th tee!]

[Update 7 (5:10 pm): Both players in the fairway, with Mendoza outdriving T-Joh.]

[Update 8 (5:13 pm): Both have 25-footers; T-Joh from short right, Mendoza from long left.]

[Update 9 (5:17 pm): Both 2-putt for pars.]

[Update 10 (5:20 pm): By the way, don't think this course is super-easy. LPGAers (either now or at 1 time) were over par for the tournament: Meredith Duncan (+1), Carolina Llano (+3), Virada Nirapathpongporn (+3), Jean Reynolds (+3), Briana Vega (+3), Sophia Sheridan (+4).]

[Update 11 (5:22 pm): Dave Andrews live-tweeting, too.]

[Update 12 (5:24 pm): T-Joh was the only player to shoot 3 sub-70 rounds. But now she has a 33-footer on #17 and may be showing Mendoza the line, as both are left and Mendoza's 9 feet inside her.]

[Update 13 (5:28 pm): T-Joh has a tester--a 4-footer to save par--while Mendoza has only 2 feet left.]

[Update 14 (5:32 pm): Both were aggressive and put their 1st putts by the hole. And both made their comebackers. On to the 18th for the 3rd time today!]

[Update 15 (5:35 pm): Mendoza is the longest hitter on tour, averaging over 268 yards per drive. But she put her drive on 18 into the right hazard. T-Joh's in the fairway. Again.]

[Update 16 (5:39 pm): T-Joh stuck her approach to 8 feet, while Mendoza missed the green 6 feet left. It's unclear what she lies.]

[Update 17 (5:42 pm): It's official: "Tiffany sinks her birdie putt for the win!"]

[Update 18 (5:54 pm): Mendoza moves up to #3 on the money list, Joh to #10, and Smith to #27. Only 5 tournaments left!]

[Update 19 (5:56 pm): Here's a photo of the awards ceremony from Cindy LaCrosse.]

[Update 20 (7/19/10, 7:05 pm): Here are Lisa Mickey's stories.]

[Update 21 (7/21/10, 4:30 pm): Great story on T-Joh's win last week and prospects this one by Gavin Faretra.]