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A little birdie

Haas’ strong finish gives him 2nd GHC title

John M Setzler Jr.

Jay Haas lines up his final putt on the 18th green during Sunday’s final round of the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn. Haas finished at 18 under par, which is a new tournament record.

By John Dell

Media General News Service

Published: September 21, 2009

CONOVER - Jay Haas' tennis elbow held up just fine Sunday.

Haas, who joked earlier in the week that he hadn't touched a tennis racket in years, fired a 7 under 65 going on a late birdie binge to win his second Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn. His 18 under for 54 holes set the tournament scoring record, and it gave him his 13th Champions Tour win.

Not bad for a guy with tendonitis in his left elbow that was so severe he had to miss the last two Champions Tour tournaments because he could hardly grip a club.

"I don't even have a racket," said Haas, a former Wake Forest star who on Saturday night went to Winston-Salem to watch the Deacons beat Elon in football.

About two weeks ago Haas got a cortisone shot in his elbow and the pain subsided. Playing pain free he quickly found his game here by starting out with a 10-under 62 in Friday's first round.

"I did not see this coming, certainly not a couple of weeks ago," Haas said.

Haas birdied five the last six holes to beat tour rookie Russ Cochran (65) and Andy Bean (65) by two shots. Hal Sutton (65) and Nick Price (68) also made runs at Haas but settled for 15 under, three shots back.

Price and Haas started the day tied for the lead, but Price bogeyed his first two holes, and while he did make a late run, couldn't catch Haas.

"Those three birdies he made on 14, 15 and 16 basically put the dagger in all of us," Price said. "He just played great and he loves the Carolinas."

Haas, who lives about 90 minutes away in Greenville, S.C., birdied 13 through 16 and then added another birdie on 18 to end it in style. He said that the short birdie putt on 14 was probably the putt of the day.

"Even though it was only six or seven feet it probably broke a foot downhill," Haas said about No. 14. "We're not talking Augusta fast, but for what I had today and for these old nerves, it was pretty quick."

When Haas added another birdie on 15 he took the lead for good over Cochran, who was playing one group ahead.

Price said that Haas was able to turn it one when he had to.

"He's coming off an injury and you are never that sharp after a month off," Price said. "He hadn't been able to hit balls because of his tennis elbow. It was amazing. When had needed to he pulled the trigger today."

Cochran, who was playing here for the first time, had his best finish in his short career on tour. His best previous finish was a third at the U.S. Senior Open in August.

"I hit good shots, missed a putt on 14 and 15, but when you get a guy like Jay Haas behind you he's going to make them," Cochran said. "He obviously feels good on this golf course you aren't going to beat him here."

On the 185-yard par-3 17th, with a lake on the right side, Haas hit a 4-iron that was nearly perfect. He missed the birdie putt, but was happy with the shot because of the pressure.

"Under the circumstances that was probably one of the most satisfying shots I've hit in a long time," Haas said.

Haas, who won his first Champions Tour tournament here in 2005, had gone 26 tournaments since his last victory.

"I just knew I hadn't won in awhile," Haas said. "It was just a different feeling today than I've had in a while, and I liked it."

Haas won $262,500 and moved from 20th on the Charles Schwab points list to 10th, but he will take the week off and not play in the SAS Championship in Cary. With his duties as President's Cup assistant to Fred Couples coming up Haas will take some time off.

Before Sunday's round one of Haas' daughters, Fran, who goes to Wake Forest, came to the tournament for breakfast.

Then Haas went about his business of winning. He had birdies on 5 and 7 on the front nine, but knew he had to get moving on his back nine.

For winning the tournament Haas also gets a brand-new rocking chair, one that matches the chair he won in 2005.

"We've got plenty of space for it," Haas said about the new piece of furniture. "We've got kids moving out and getting their own places so it will be a nice addition to the house."

John Dell is a staff writer for the Winston-Salem Journal. Reach him at jdell@wsjournal.com.