Neither St. Xavier's Justin Thomas nor Lexington Christian's Hunter Stewart wanted to play a sudden-death playoff for the Leachman Buick/GMC KHSAA Boys State Golf Championship early Thursday morning.

But when the playoff began, both players performed as if there was no place they'd rather be.

Thomas carded back-to-back birdies - the last of which was a chip from 15 feet off the green on the second playoff hole - to beat Stewart and clinch his first individual state title.

It was a thrilling conclusion to what had already been a dramatic duel between the two. They played together in the final round of the tournament on Wednesday, with both recording 2-under-par 70. Thomas' effort gave the Tigers their record 18th team state championship by one shot over Stewart's Eagles and the two players were tied at 2-under after each of the final five holes of the round.

But that finish came after Thomas made the turn Wednesday with a four-shot lead. And in Thursday's playoff, Stewart had to make another comeback.

On the first playoff hole, Thomas hit his third shot at the par-5 18th to eight feet, setting himself nicely for birdie. Stewart, who was much further back for his third, had to sink a 45-footer for birdie to put the pressure on Thomas. Thomas then calmly sank his putt to extend the playoff.

On the second playoff hole, both players were short of the par-4 1st hole in two. Thomas played first, chipping from about 15 yards off the green. His ball took one bounce, then rolled the rest of the way and into the cup for birdie. It forced Stewart to make his bunker shot but he was only able to hit it to about three feet away from the hole, giving Thomas the title.

The win caps a remarkable 12 months for the St. Xavier junior. He was part of the Tigers' state title in 2008 and finished just one shot out of a playoff for the individual title. He then won two American Junior Golf Association events and recorded two more top-10 finishes in 2009 and made the 36-hole cut at the PGA TOUR's Wyndham Championship in August.