EDGEFIELD, S.C. --- Eric Ledford's cell phone didn't ring with an emergency call before he teed off this year in the final round of the Perry Watson Memorial.

The first call made Sunday was by Ledford to his wife, Dina, to tell her he just won the Regions Cup tournament over North Augusta teenager Brandon Burnside.

Ledford fired 69-73 to finish at 2-under 142, one shot ahead of Burnside, a Newberry College golfer who closed with 68.

Last year, Ledford had to leave Pine Ridge Plantation in a hurry before the closing round. His pregnant wife was being rushed to the hospital after feeling pains.

Ledford, who was three shots off the lead, withdrew and headed for University Hospital. Their daughter, Livia, was born the next day.

"Oh man, this weekend reminded me of that," Ledford said. "It's a pretty special time of the year coming around again."

Ledford said Livia, who turns 1 on Wednesday, "is my life."

This was the 29-year-old Ledford's third career victory, but he's getting a late start in 2008. He made his first appearance last week at Gordon Lakes, where he tied for eighth place in the seventh of 10 tournaments in the series.

Between being with his wife and daughter and getting his real estate license four months ago, Ledford hasn't had much time for golf.

He's playing again because he wants to make the eight-man South Carolina team in the season-ending Regions Cup Matches. He locked up a spot with his win Sunday.

Ledford was the first-round leader after his 69, and he still led after even-par 36 on the front nine Sunday. He then made double-bogey on No. 10 and bogey on 12 to go 3-over on the back nine. Ledford responded with birdies on Nos. 13, 14 and 15 (where he nearly drove the par-4 green) to pull ahead.

"I'm very happy; I always play to win," said Ledford, a former nationally ranked junior and University of South Carolina golfer.

Ledford enjoyed being around the Regions Cup atmosphere again so much that he stayed around and followed the playoff to determine the winner in a wild senior division finish.

North Augusta's Jim Brisson, who was so sure he'd blown the tournament that he put up his clubs and went in to eat lunch, ended up beating Mike Jackson on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.

Brisson, who shot 74-71--145 to Jackson's 70-75--145, rolled in a downhill, 35-foot birdie putt to deny Jackson a record-tying 13th senior division title.

"When I saw it going down there, I said, 'Oh no, don't hurt the hammer,' " said Jackson, referring to his nickname.

"The putts all day weren't breaking the way you thought they would because the greens were real bumpy," Brisson said. "I'm sure there was some luck involved in that one."

It was the third title for the 55-year-old Brisson, and one he never saw coming.

Brisson whiffed a 2-inch par putt on No. 9, which was his 18th hole. He was so upset that his 8-foot birdie putt had missed that his putter head went right over the top of the ball during the next stroke.

"When I missed the birdie putt, I figured I wouldn't even get a gift certificate (for a high finish)," said Brisson, who said he had never whiffed a putt in competition before.

Brisson wasn't as upset as playing partner Robert Samuels, who entered the final hole one shot ahead of Brisson for the tournament. As it turned out, a double-bogey 7 on the par 5 would have gotten Samuels in the playoff, but he made 9 and shot 74.

Jackson, 60, is at least getting closer to the record-tying victory. He's played 24 events since his last win, but this is the first time he's lost in a playoff in that span.

"I did think it was coming to an end," said Jackson, who is good friends with Brisson, a two-time winner this season.

"For his sake, it would be nice if he'd win another one," Brisson said with a laugh. "I don't have to win them all."

Reach David Westin at (706) 724-0851 or david.westin@augustachronicle.com.