Elder attended the University of Texas and was a member of the golf team.

[2] He won the Haskins Award for most outstanding collegiate golfer in 1997, his senior year.

[3] Elder turned professional and debuted on the Nike Tour in 1998.

He won two events in that venue in 1999, which allowed him to move up to the PGA Tour.

In 2007, he finished in the top-25 on the Nationwide Tour's money list, which included a win at the Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open for the second time.