Eichelberger wins as rain washes out play

Dave Eichelberger won his first Senior PGA Tour event in three years Sunday when rain wiped out the final round of the Emerald Coast Classic.

Eichelberger opened with consecutive 5-under 65s for a two- stroke victory over Doug Tewell, still two back after 10 holes when the final round was called off at The Moors Golf Club.

Lanny Wadkins was third, four stokes back at 134. Hubert Green finished at 135, and Tom Jenkins, Dale Douglass and Dana Quigley followed at 136.

Eichelberger had his 12th career hole-in-one in the first round, using a 7-iron on the 185-yard eighth hole.

``That turned out to be the difference,'' Eichelberger said. ``I never knew it at the time; first time I've ever had anything like that make a difference.''

It was Eichelberger's sixth senior tour victory and he is the seventh different winner this year. At 58, he is the oldest winner since Jim Colbert won the 2001 SBC Senior Classic at 60.

Play was suspended because of lightning at 1:47 p.m. and the final round was canceled about 2 hours later after just over an inch of rain soaked the course.

``There's nowhere to play golf,'' said Gene Smith, the tour's assistant tournament director. ``All of the fairways, front side and back side, were totally under water.''

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