Haas breaks mark, snares Hickory title

CONOVER, North Carolina – Jay Haas overcame a slow start to shoot a 7-under 65 on Sunday, setting a tournament record while winning his second Greater Hickory Classic by two shots over Russ Cochran and Andy Bean.

Haas, who also won the event in 2005, finished at 18-under 198 at Rock Barn Golf and Spa’s Robert Trent Jones course. His three-day total broke the tournament mark – set by R.W. Eaks in 2007 – by one shot.

It also made the 13-time winner on the 50-and-over tour the second repeat winner in the tournament’s seven-year history. Eaks won back-to-back titles in 2007 and ‘08.

“I didn’t see this coming, certainly not a couple weeks ago,” said Haas, who had been receiving treatment for tendinitis in his right elbow, which kept him off the tour for a month.

“A couple weeks ago, I just didn’t know what was going to happen. I didn’t know if my shot was going to work,” he added. “But today, it felt great – no pain at all.”   Cochran and Bean also shot 65 on Sunday, with Hal Sutton (65) and second-round co-leader Nick Price (68) tied for fourth at 15 under.    (AP)