CONCORD — Jenny Gleason stuck her approach shot about a foot away from the pin and made birdie on the first playoff hole to win the Northeast Delta Dental International on Sunday.

Gleason was the leader by three strokes heading into the final round of play, but started the day 2-over-par after the first four holes and then imploded with bogeys down the stretch that allowed Esther Choe to slip into a playoff with her.

Then Gleason made her shot of the day when she hit a gap wedge from 99 yards out that bounced off the front of the green and rolled to within two feet of the cup.

“From the reaction of the crowd we thought it might have went in,” Gleason said.

It didn’t, but it all but assured her of a birdie, meaning Choe had to get up and down from the fairway.

Choe hit her approach to the back of the green and her long putt skirted the cup, leaving her a tap-in for par.

Gleason then tapped in to win the tourney, an LPGA developmental event held at Beaver Meadow Golf Course.

Gleason and Choe finished tied for first place after 54 holes at 5-under-par. Nicole Smith of Riverside, Calif., was third at 3-under and four others finished tied for fourth at 2-under.

It was the third win on the tour for Gleason, who has been in six LPGA events this year, but her first since 2005.

Gleason had several chances to win it down the stretch, but couldn’t lock it up. Just seconds before she bogeyed 16, Choe three putted at 17, meaning Gleason still held a one-stroke lead with two holes to play.

Then Gleason, of Clearwater, Fla., bogeyed the 17th to drop into a tie with Choe at 5-under.

The drama wasn’t even close to over at that point.

Gleason’s approach at 18 in regulation was also good. She stuck that shot about 5 feet away from the pin, but missed the putt to force the playoff.

“I kept getting chances,” Choe said.

The purse for the event was $100,000, with $15,000 of that going to Gleason for the win.

Gleason was 2-over during the first four holes, but then caught fire with birdies at 7, 8 and 9 to make the turn with a one-stroke lead.

“I hung in there, even through six holes,” Gleason said. “I said ‘You’re playing well, you’re putting well.’”

Things got messy on the back nine, where she had three bogeys to go along with six pars.

Choe, of Scottsdale, Ariz., also finished the front nine strong with birdies at 8 and 9. But she carded two bogeys and no birdies on the back nine to set the stage for the playoff.

mquirk@unionleader.com