Swede Lingmerth failed to continue his progress, though, after he found the water at the first extra hole - with Gay and Howell III both carding birdies.

Gay birdied again at the second extra hole, with Howell unable to match his compatriot after finding the bunker.

Amazing

"It was a rollercoaster," Gay said. "When I first finished, there was four guys on the same score. I didn't know who was done, who was still out. And then Scott and Charles are long hitters, I knew they had a mid-iron into 18. I figured at least one, if not both of them, would birdie 18.

"So I was fortunate for that not to happen and have another chance. And boom, there we go. And I just felt like I kind of had a second life, another opportunity.

"It feels amazing right now. I'm still in a little bit of shock. It kind of happened so fast there at the end the way things went down."

Stallings could only manage a final-round 70 to finish on 24-under - one shot off the pace alongside James Hahn, joint leader after round one.

Scotland's Martin Laird was the leading Briton on 16 under for a share of 47th, while Ross Fisher was 15 under and Greg Owen finished last among those who made the cut on eight under after carding a final-round three-over 75.