For Ingraham, who bogeyed the final hole of regulation to fall back into a tie with Farrow at 4-under-par 138 and missed a 21/2-foot par putt at the first playoff hole, the win was a testament to maturity.
"I figured I'd hit the putt solid, and I pulled it slightly," he said. "After I missed it, I said, 'OK, you're still alive, keep playing golf, trust yourself and go on.'
"In the past, I might have gotten down on myself, just like I might have when I bogeyed the last hole. But I didn't - I think because of maturity. The fact that I had an opportunity to be there, just being in a playoff in the section championship at age 52, that's a special dream to me."
On the third playoff hole, a 208-yard par-3, Ingraham hit a 4-iron, a strike he described as "aggressive and nervous." But the ball landed on the green right of the hole, and he sank the birdie putt.
Ingraham pocketed the $7,500 first prize and a watch with the win. It was his second section title.
Two-time defending champion Rich Steinmetz of Spring Ford shot a 67 to fall one shot short of a playoff at 139, where he tied with Eric Kennedy of Overbrook and Jake Gerney of Trump National-Philadelphia.
The top 12 finishers qualified for the 2013 PGA Professional National Championship.
Contact Joe Juliano at 215-854-4494 or jjuliano@phillynews.com, or follow on Twitter @joejulesinq.
*-won playoff
*-Stu Ingraham, M-Golf 70-68-138
Greg Farrow, Deerwood 68-70-138
Rich Steinmetz, Spring Ford 72-67-139
Jake Gerney, Trump National-Phila 71-68-139
Eric Kennedy, Overbrook 72-67-139
John Bierkan, Aronimink 72-69-141
Barry Dear, Links 70-71-141
Travis Deibert, Commonwealth Natl 69-72-141
Terry Hatch, Hidden Valley 76-66-142
Brian Kelly, Bucknell 73-69-142
Dave McNabb, Applebrook 74-69-143
Rick Hughart, Tavistock 75-68-143
Alex Knoll, Bethlehem 75-70-145
Mark Sheftic, Merion 76-69-145
Cleve Coldwater, Glenmaura Natl 76-69-145
