Brad Elder earned
his second win on the Nike Tour this year, rallying from four strokes off the
pace to capture the Nike Inland Empire Open in California. Elder fired a six-
under-par 66 on Sunday to finish with a four-day total of 21-under 267, three
shots better than Dick Mast.
Elder, who
also won the Wichita Open earlier this year, became the sixth two-time winner
on the Nike Tour this year. He earned a first-prize of $40,500 and moved into
10th place on the money list with just two events left in the season.
Elder, who began the season as a Monday qualifier,
has not played a full schedule. Should he finish among the top-15 at the end of
the season, he would earn a spot on the PGA Tour next year.
"It's
been a long year. I didn't play all the events because I didn't have my card,
but I tried to make the most of opportunities," said Elder, a former three-time
All-American and college player of the year at Texas.
Patrick Lee, who started the final round with a three-shot lead, struggled to
a two-over 74 on Sunday. He finished tied for third at 17-under par with Todd
Demsey.
