It took a playoff to get the job done, but Kelly Mitchum rallied to win the Carolinas Open championship Thursday and earn exemptions into the three 2007 PGA Tour events in the Carolinas.

Mitchum, a lead instructor at Pinehurst Resort's Golf Advantage School, began the final round at The Club at Longview two strokes behind leader Lance Reid of Concord.

He shot 2-under on the front to catch Reid and they battled to a draw the rest of the way.

Mitchum shot 71-69-72--212 in winning his sixth Carolinas PGA title and also wrapped up the Carolinas Section Player of the Year honors for the third consecutive year.

Reid, who was seeking to win his first CPGA tournament with a wire-to-wire effort, shot 66-72-74. Jeffrey Peck of Charlotte and Karl Kimball of Surfside Beach, S.C., tied for third with 214.

Reid, a former University of North Carolina player, lost the lead for the first time when he made back-to-back bogeys on holes 6 and 7.

One of the turning points in the match came on the par-5 17th hole when Mitchum, a former N.C. State All-American, saved par from a bunker by sinking a 15-foot putt.

"I thought I had hit a pretty good shot," Mitchum said of the approach that finished in the sand, "but the wind decided otherwise and I found myself in a bit of trouble instead of on the green. But my putter came through and I was lucky to dodge a bullet."

The playoff began on the 18th hole where Reid saw his hopes dashed when he put his approach shot in a water hazard, allowing Mitchum to play for a cautious winning par.

Mitchum earned $6,000 from the $50,000 purse. Reid won $3,940.

Gus Ulrich, an assistant professional at Forest Creek Golf Club, finished tied for eighth with 217 and won $1,750. Rob Pilewski of Mid Pines was 11th at 219 and won $1,500. Bobby Cooke of Carthage, head professional at Gates Four Golf and Country Club in Fayetteville, shot 225 and won $587.