European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 14, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday january 14, 1992 the stars and stripes Page 21elkingtori wins toc in playoff by Bob Green Carlsbad Calif. A Steve Elkington won a Golf tournament on sunday. Perhaps More importantly he also cleared a mental Barrier. Elkington an australian now living in the United states dropped a 10-foot Birdie putt on the first extra Hole to beat Brad Faxon in a playoff and win the elite tournament of champions. A i jumped a mental hurdle today a Elkington said after head watched a two stroke Lead disappear and his game become suspect before a late rally brought him the Victory. Elkington a resident of Houston and a protege of old Champion Jack Burke said his Mentor has hammered into him the need for Calm and patience. A i kept it slow and Calm today just like he told me to. I did no to get fast. I kept my patience. In a proud of that a Elkington said. And in the end it brought him the third Victory of his career. After a double bogey on the fifth Hole and a bogey on the eighth a i was two behind and going the wrong Way a Elkington said. But he got one Back on the ninth went Back in front with another Birdie on the 12th and went in front again with a 30-footer on the 14th. A couple of critical saves on the next two holes kept him in the Lead. Faxon however tied him with 10-foot Birdie putt on the 17th. Elkington missed an 8-footer to win it outright on the 18th and they finished in a tie for the Lead at 9-under-Par 279. Elkington had a closing 72, Faxon a 70. On the first playoff Hole Elkington put his 7-Iron approach 10 feet below the cup and Faxon trying to get it close watched his second shot Drift some 40 feet away. After Faxon missed Elkington ran his putt into the cup for the title in the opening event on the Long pea tour schedule. The Victory was Worth $144,000 from the total purse of $800,000. Fred couples Rocco mediate and Billy Andrade missed the playoff by a single stroke at 280. Couples who now has finished sixth or better in 14 of his last 17 world wide starts shot a 70. Mediate and Andrade each had a 71 in the final round of the tournament that brought together Only the winners of 1991 pea tour events. Paul Azinger who was assessed a 2-shot penalty Friday when his Ball moved after head picked up a Loose impediment was alone at 282 after a 70. In a separate but simultaneous Competition for winners from the senior pea tour a1 Geiber Ger held on for a 3-stroke Victory. Geib Ger needed Only a final round of 1-Over 73 to turn Back Chi Chi Rodriguez and Bruce Crampton who tied for second. A i just kept telling myself a its your tournament. Done to let them take it away a Geiber Ger said after finishing at 282. Rodrigo cd once closed to a single stroke but Geiber Ger dropped a 15-foot Birdie putt on the 13th Hole and Rodriguez three putted for bogey on the next. The Victory  a seventh in his senior career was Worth $52,500. Rodriguez and Crampton the defending Champion tied for second at 285. Rodriguez had a closing 73 and Crampton shot a 70. Sampras pulls out Seles wins in australian open by Paul Alexander Melbourne Australia apr defending Champion Monica Seles shrugged off a neck injury monday to inflict punishment on Japan Sakiko Kij Imuta in the australian open. Pete Sampras the no. 6 menus seed Wasny tas Lucky. A sore shoulder forced him to withdraw from the grand slam event for the second straight year without playing a Point. Alexander Volkov of Russia beat australian Todd Woodbridge 6-3,6-2, 6-1. Seles making her first tournament appearance since november rebounded from a first game service break and barely broke a sweat in cruising past Japan Sakiko Kij Imuta 6-2, 6-0 in 48 minutes. Kij Imuta wilted under the constant pressure and failed to hold any of her seven service games in the first round match. Seles the top seeded woman has been slowed by a big in Australia a week ago. Is Day before switching to a Scarf for neck Strain since Arrivin wore a Brace for a warmth. He a a today was the first Day i played without the Scarf a she said. A maybe just one or two Points i was aware of it. But it Felt Fine. In a not feeling that comfortable with the service because i did no to hit that Many this week. I just wanted to get Over the  but the two month Layoff did help Selest attitude. A i feel fresh a she said. Boris Becker wary of the strength sapping heat of summer Down under wilted Jan Gunnarsson of Sweden with the steam of 25 aces in his first round match. While Becker soldered on the court in 90-degree weather one of his chief rivals Sampras got Frozen out by injury again. The reigning at Champion and 1990 . Open Winner left with an inflamed shoulder Tendon that he aggravated last week in a tune up event in Adelaide. Sampras withdrew last year two Days before the Start because of Shin splints. The second seeded Becker knocked off Gunnarsson 61,6-4,6-2 and seemed surprised when told he had 25 aces. A a that a Good news a Becker said with a smile. A a that a quite a lot even for me. I  have asked for a better  top seeded Stefan Edberg appearing in a major tournament for the first time after a two month Layoff to Recu iterate from injuries was nervous before his match. But in quickly picked up steam in ripping doubles partner Jeremy Bates of Britain 6-4,6-2,6-4. The first Day of the two week grand slam event also marked the australian pro debut of 15-year-old Jennifer Capriati who delighted an enthusiastic Center court crowd with a display of strength in ousting Natalia Medvedeva 6-2,6-0. American Jeff Tarango rallied from two sets Down to oust ninth seeded Petr Korda 4-6,4-6,6-3,6-3,63. His next match pairs him against fellow Stanford alumnus Patrick Mcenroe who beat Italy a Massimo Cerro 63,6-4,6-4. Mcenroe reached the semifinals a year ago. American Brad Gilbert ranked 20th, was another Early casualty losing in five sets to no. 256 Lars Wahlgren of Sweden 1-6,6-2,6-1,3-6,6-2. Fifth seeded Ivan Lendl a two time australian open Champion beat australian Richard Fromberg 6-4, 6-2, 62 in the opening match on the 15,000-seat Center court. K devils Valeri Zel Pukin front and Kings Lany Robinson collide during sundays nil confrontation. Sabres skate by rangers by the associated press Buffalo . A Pat Lafontaine had two goals and an assist As the Buffalo sabres extended their Home game unbeaten skein to eight games with a 6-3 Victory Over the new York rangers. The sabres 6-0-2 in their last eight games at the Aud scored two goals in each of the second and third periods. Lafontaine blasted in a 40-foot Power play goal on a screen shot to give Buffalo a 2-2 tie at 15 32 of the second period. He later scored at 1 35 of the third to give the sabres 4-3 Lead. Other Buffalo goals came from Randy Wood Dale Hawer Chuk Alexander Mogiln and Donald Audette. John Ogrodnick Mike Gartner and Tim Kerr scored for the rangers. In other games sunday devils 5, Kings 2 East Rutherford . Chris Terreri stopped 39 shots for Only his second Victory in two months As new Jersey Defeated los Angeles. The devils had Quick starts in each of the first two periods in winning for the fifth time in six games. Stack Hawks 4, capitals 2 Chicago a Brent Sutter had two goals and an assist and Chicago a special teams shut Down Washington a league leading Power play All seven times As the Blackhawk Defeated the capitals. The Blackhawk out shot the capitals 33-18 Overall. Sutter with goals in each of the first two periods National hockey league helped the Blackhawk win for the fourth time in five games. Flyers 4, islanders 3 Philadelphia Kevin Dineen scored two of Philadelphia a four first period goals and Mark Pederson assisted on three to Lead the flyers Over new York. The win was the flyers 600th Home  3 Columbia a Joe Mullen jagr All scored in less than period As Pittsburgh rallied in the second period before Stevens the latter on the ahead for Good. Jagr added Liff Ronning and Tom Fer penguins 4 Vancouver British Kevin Stevens and Jaromir four minutes of the second to beat Vancouver. The penguins trailed 2-1 the goals by Mullen and Power play put Pittsburgh the clincher. Pavel Bure c Gus scored for the canucks. Sharks 4, jets 3 Winnipeg Manitoba a Pat Falloon scored with eight seconds left As san Jose won for Only the second time on the Road this season with a 4-3 decision Over Winnipeg. The Sharks Are 2-21-1 on the Road in their initial season. Tony Hrkac Ken Hammond and Doug Wilson also scored for san Jose. Pat a Lynnik had two goals and Phil Housley scored the other for the jets