Australian golfer Jarrod Lyle claimed his second victory of the year on the Nationwide Tour today, defeating American Chris Kirk on the first play-off hole to win the Knoxville Open.
The Victorian's victory took Australia's tally of wins on the US secondary tour to six from 15 tournaments in 2008.
Overnight leader Lyle shot a closing three-under-par 69 to tie Kirk (67) at 19-under then birdied the first extra hole to claim the $US90,000 ($A94,450) winner's cheque and jump to the top spot on the tour money list.
If Lyle can win a third title this year he will follow Aussie Nick Flanagan's 2007 example by earning immediate "battlefield" promotion to the US PGA Tour, otherwise he's almost certain to go up at the end of the season as a top 20 money earner.
Lyle started the Australian winning streak back in February when he scored his first professional victory at the Mexico Open.
Two events later Ewan Porter notched his maiden win at the Australasian co-sanctioned Moonah Classic at Moonah Links in Victoria.
Gavin Coles claimed the following event, the Louisiana Open and Aron Price made it an Aussie hat-trick a week later at the Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship in California before Greg Chalmers triumphed at the Henrico County Open in Virginia two weeks later.
Lyle was the best-placed Nationwide Tour player at last week's US Open, finishing tied 47th after earning a qualifier's berth.
