Haas overcomes slow start to win second Greater Hickory Classic title

Haas wins second Greater Hickory Classic

CONOVER, N.C. — Jay Haas overcame a slow start to shoot a 7-under 65 on Sunday, winning his second Greater Hickory Classic by two shots over Russ Cochran and Andy Bean.

Haas, who also won the Champions Tour event in 2005, set a tournament-record of 18-under 198 at Rock Barn Golf and Spa’s Robert Trent Jones course. His three-day total broke the 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.

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.

Haas, who had a 10-under 62 on Friday and was tied with Price at 11-under after Saturday’s round, didn’t make his first birdie Sunday until the fifth hole. He assumed command with birdies on five of the last six holes, including four straight between Nos. 13-16.