Australia's Steve Elkington parred the first hole of a suddendeath play-off to defeat Fred Funk and win the $1.5 million Buick Challenge at Pine Moutain, Georgia yesterday.

Bill Glasson fell one stroke short of joining the play-off at 20under 268. He matched Funk's 69 but also eclipsed the previous tournament record of 16-under, set by Hubert Green in 1975.

Little-known J.L. Lewis was fourth at 19-under 269, followed by Skip Kendall at 271. PGA money-leader David Duval tied for sixth with Steve Flesch at 15-under.

Elkington, hampered by various ailments this year, ended up twoputting for par at the first playoff hole, the 432-yard 18th.

Funk, bidding for a start-to-finish victory, drove into a bunker and his subsequent shot hit the lip of the bunker and missed the green.

After chipping six feet past the hole, he never attempted his bogey putt.

Elkington, the 1995 PGA Championship winner, captured his first victory of the year and the ninth of his career.