Elder wins by two shots

Brad Elder earned his first Nike Tour victory with a two-shot triumph over Mark Wurtz at the Nike Wichita Open. Elder shot a one-under-par 71 on Sunday to finish with a four-day total of 20-under 268, but had to fight off a challenge from Wurtz down the stretch.

Wurtz started the day four shots behind Elder and was able to shoot a three-under 69 to shave a pair of strokes off the lead. Mike Grob tied for third at 17-under with Gary Nicklaus and Garrett Willis.

Elder held a six-shot lead after Wurtz bogeyed the first two holes, but Wurtz was able to cut his deficit to three at the turn. Wurtz made four straight birdies, starting at the 11th, to forge a tie with Elder.

Elder then birdied the 15th hole with a 20-foot putt to again take the lead.

"The putt on 15 was the difference for me," said Elder. "It was a huge putt."

Wurtz had a birdie putt lip out of the hole on 17, then hit his tee shot into the water on 18 to end his chances.

"It was really an up and down day," said Wurtz. "The course played longer with the higher gusts of wind and having to make up four shots on a player like Brad made it even more tough."

Elder earned a first-prize of $40,500, picked up his fourth top- 10 finish in 11 events this year and moved into eighth place on the Nike Tour money list. The top-15 money winners at the end of the year earn PGA Tour playing privileges next year.

Matt Gogel, who has won twice this year and needs one more victory for a "Battlefield Promotion" to the PGA Tour, finished tied for eighth at 14-under par. He still leads the Nike Tour money list by more than $50,000.

AP