GOLF ROUNDUP : Elkington Gets Victory Without Taking a Swing

The final round of the Buick Southern Open was rained out Sunday at Pine Mountain, Ga., giving Australia’s Steve Elkington his fourth victory on the PGA Tour.

“It was a tough morning for me because it was sort of two minds for me,” Elkington said. “I had a five-shot lead and I felt like all I could do was lose it. Then again, I was playing so well.”

Elkington secured the lead at the halfway mark when he posted his second consecutive six-under-par 66 on the Callaway Gardens Mountain View course and had a 68 on Saturday, giving him a 54-hole total of 16-under 200.

The final round actually got under way, with four groups on the course when play was suspended at 8:27 a.m. About 90 minutes later, it was called off after heavy rain left water standing on the greens and in traps.

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Former club pro champion Larry Gilbert outdueled Raymond Floyd down the stretch, taking advantage of a three-shot swing on the 16th hole to win the Vantage Championship at Clemmons, N.C.

Gilbert shot his third consecutive 66 for an 18-under 198 total and his second victory on the Senior Tour this season. He earned $225,000.

Gilbert and Floyd were tied at 17 under through 15 holes, but it was Floyd who flopped.

After a five-minute wait on the 16th tee, Floyd hit his five-iron tee shot on the 183-yard par-three into the crowd. After a free drop, he dubbed his chip shot short of the green. His second chip rolled to about four feet from the cup, but Gilbert promptly holed his 25-foot putt from the fringe for a birdie.

Floyd then missed his putt to fall three shots off the lead with two holes to play.

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Liselotte Neumann had three birdies in a four-hole span en route to a two-under 70 and a three-stroke victory in the $500,000 LPGA Heartland Classic at St. Louis.

Neumann birdied Nos. 9, 11 and 12 to take a five-stroke lead before faltering with bogeys at 16 and 17 for a 10-under 278 total.

Elaine Crosby and Pearl Sinn tied for second at 281.