GOLF ROUNDUP : Pavin’s Birdie Beats Couples in Ft. Lauderdale Playoff

Corey Pavin holed out from the 18th fairway for an eagle to set up a playoff, then beat Fred Couples, the hottest player in golf, with a 15-foot birdie putt in virtual darkness on the second playoff hole to win the Honda Classic at Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

The victory was some consolation for the former UCLA star who lost to Couples by a single vote in balloting by touring pros for the 1991 player-of-the-year award.

When Pavin, playing well ahead of Couples, holed a 136-yard shot with an eight-iron for an eagle on the finishing hole, it gave him a 72-hole total of 15-under-par 273 on the Weston Hills course.

Couples needed a birdie on the final hole to tie Pavin, and Couples got one with a three-foot putt that completed a round of 71.

After they parred the first playoff hole, there was discussion about continuing the playoff Monday because of darkness.

But Pavin ended things by rolling in his winning putt on almost the same line that Couples had when he missed a birdie putt from 20 feet.

Pavin collected $198,000 for the 10th victory of his career.

Lee Trevino shot a five-under-par 67 to beat Chi Chi Rodriquez by two strokes and repeat as champion of the senior tournament at San Antonio.

Trevino completed three rounds in 201, 15 under par for the 6,814-yard Dominion Country Club course.

Trevino, 52, who won his first event of the year, tied the tournament scoring record set by Larry Mowry in 1989. Rodriguez shot a 68 to finish at 203.

Brandie Burton chipped to within two feet of the pin and made her birdie at the 18th hole to win her first LPGA event by one stroke over Beth Daniel and Dale Eggeling.

Burton, 20, last year’s rookie of the year, shot a final-round four-under-par 68 for a 72-hole total of 11-under 277.