Amateur Lewis wins shortened LPGA event

Stacy Lewis finished atop the leaderboard – and she even received a big trophy. Is she the champion? Not really.

Lewis was the first-round leader at the rain-shortened LPGA NW Arkansas Championship at Rogers, Ark., and she’ll have to settle for that. The LPGA Tour shortened the event from 54 holes to 18, setting up a strange finish on a nearly empty course.

Only 32 players hadn’t finished when play resumed Sunday, and the final day was closed to the public. Lewis, an amateur who plays college golf at nearby Arkansas, finished her first round Saturday at 7-under 65. Lewis, the NCAA champion, isn’t considered an official winner because the tournament did not last at least 36 holes.

Kristy McPherson, Katherine Hull and Teresa Lu shot 66s Friday on the 6,238-yard course and were a stroke behind Lewis. Juli Inkster, Sherri Turner and Jin Young Pak were another stroke back at 67.

Walker Cup

Jonathan Moore hit a 4-iron into 4 feet for eagle on the 18th hole to give the Americans the final point they needed to capture the Walker Cup at Newcastle, Northern Ireland, the first time in 16 years they have won away from home.

The Americans won the Walker Cup for the second straight year against Britain and Ireland and hold a 33-7-1 record in the series.

Moore also contributed in the morning when the United States swept the four alternate-shot matches to build a 10-6 lead.

European Tour

Brett Rumford holed a 30-foot chip from the fringe on the first hole of a playoff with Phillip Archer to win the European Masters at Crans-Sur-Sierre, Switzerland.

The Australian closed with a 3-under 68 to match Archer (65) at 16-under 268. Bradley Dredge, the 2006 winner, had a 69 to finish a stroke back.