Opening 62 gives Haas lead at Greater Hickory
September 18, 2009
CONOVER, N.C. (AP)—Jay Haas shot a 10-under 62 during the first round of therain-delayed Greater Hickory Classic on Friday, taking a three-shot lead intothe weekend.
Haas is the 2005 tournament champion and tied for second two years ago. Heplayed a bogey-free round at Rock Barn Golf and Spa’s Robert Trent Jones course.
“It was one of those days,” said the 55-year-old Haas, who is winless onthe Champions Tour this season. “I got off to a good start … and it feltcomfortable. I drove the ball well, and I made a few extra putts I hadn’t beenmaking. I was in the zone, as they say.”
Haas’ was one shot shy of tying the tournament record, set last year bytwo-time and defending champion R.W. Eaks. It also matched the Champions Tour’slow round of the season, set by Brad Bryant in the first round of the Jen-WeldTradition on Aug. 17 in Sunriver, Ore.
Gil Morgan was second after his 65, with Tom Jenkins, Jerry Pate andthree-time major champion Nick Price another stroke back. Nine other players,among them former PGA Championship winners Jeff Sluman and Hal Sutton, were tiedfor fourth after rounds of 67.
Eaks and Fred Funk—who leads Loren Roberts by 57 points in the CharlesSchwab Cup standings—were among those who shot 69.
Haas, last year’s Charles Schwab Cup winner, had missed the last two eventsbecause of tendinitis in his left elbow. A cortisone shot he received two weeksago left him feeling able to play a competitive round at Rock Barn.
He didn’t disappoint, with birdies on four straight holes to open his round.He tacked on two more on the front nine, then made four more birdies on the backnine to beat his previous career best round in Champions Tour events by onestroke.
“I was anxious to play, for sure,” Haas said. “I was kind of chomping atthe bit. I had been swinging well and feeling like I was doing the right things,then I came up with the tendinitis. … But I’m in no pain right now. Hopefullythat will continue.”
The 62-year-old Morgan said called his round “pretty routine.”
“I hit it close a couple times, and I made a couple of 10- to 12-footputts,” Morgan said. “It was pretty unspectacular. On most of the shots, Iwasn’t in any real danger out there today … but I had a few opportunities outthere that I missed.”
Persistent showers Friday morning delayed the start of the opening round bynearly three hours. In order to complete the round before nightfall, tournamentofficials sent the pairings off from the first and 10th tees.
Nearly half an inch of rain had fallen in the days before the 50-and-overtour event, and nearly half an inch fell late Thursday night and early Fridaymorning. Tournament officials said that more rain is forecast for the areathrough Monday.
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