Robert Allenby rammed home a 10-foot par putt on the fourth play-off hole to claim the Houston Open in Texas.

The 28-year-old Australian finally saw off the challenge of America's Craig Stadler to win his first PGA Tour title.

Allenby had recovered from firing his second shot into the water to claim a bogey five at the first play-off hole and then saw Stadler leave his par-putt on the lip of the hole from eight feet.

The Australian was given another reprieve when Stadler missed a five-foot birdie putt at the second sudden-death hole and Stadler edged a 10-foot birdie putt just to the right of the third extra hole.

After holing his putt on the fourth play-off hole, Allenby watched on as Stadler then sent another effort from eight feet sailing wide of the cup.

Both Allenby and Stadler had holed pressure par-putts, from 10 and eight feet respectively, on the final hole of regulation play to force the play-off.

They finished on 13 under 275 after Allenby went round in a level-par 72 and Stadler took one shot less.

Loren Roberts and Joel Edwards were tied for third on 12 under after rounds of 69 and 70 respectively.

Mark Brooks (69) and Brad Fabel (71) finished another shot back to share fifth.

Details (US unless stated): 275 - R Allenby (Aus) 68 67 68 72, C Stadler 66 69 69 71. 276 - L Roberts 68 67 72 69, J Edwards 68 71 67 70. 277 - M Brooks 69 67 72 69, B Fabel 70 67 69 71. 278 - S Lowery 73 67 70 68, D Sutherland 72 70 67 69. M Sposa 69 68 71 70, S Hoch 71 65 69 73. 279 - P Stankowski 67 69 78 65, P Jordan 69 72 71 67, C Raulerson 68 69 74 68, M Gogel 68 68 72 71, C Franco (Paraguay) 65 71 72 71, J Kaye 72 66 68 73.

Others: 280 - E Toledo (Mexico) 70 70 73 67, T Dobbs (SA) 70 70 73 67, S Ames (Trinidad) 68 71 68 73. 282 - F Allen (SA) 68 71 68 75. 283 - C Spence (Aus) 74 68 71 70. 284 - B Hughes (Aus) 68 74 70 72. 288 - F Nobilo (New Zealand) 69 73 73 73. 289 - R Sabbatini (SA) 71 71 71 76.

On the US Seniors Tour, Christy O'Connor jnr finished tied 14th with a final round of 70 at the Bruno's Memorial Classic. The event was won by George Archer to give him his second Georgia-Pacific SuperSeniors title of 2000 with a final round score of eight under par.