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About the Event
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TOURNAMENT QUICK FACTS
Dates: September 14-20, 2009
Sanctioning Body: PGA TOUR’s Champions Tour
Field: 78 players
Past Champions: Craig Stadler (2003); Doug Tewell (2004); Jay Haas (2005); Andy Bean (2006); R.W. Eaks (2007); RW Eaks (2008)
Location: Rock Barn Golf & Spa, Conover, North Carolina
Course: The Jones Course –18 holes, 7,046 yards, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
Format: 54 holes, stroke play with no cut
Purse: $1.75 million ($262,500 to the winner)
Charities: All net proceeds are donated to area charities
Television: GOLF CHANNEL
Honorary Chairman: Hickory resident Dale Jarrett, NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Champion and Driver
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2007: THE REDEMPTION BATTLE ~ Sept. 10-16 After a heartbreaking playoff lose to Andy Bean at the 2006 event, R.W. Eaks victory at the fifth annual Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn Presented by Kia Motors was truly sweet redemption. His victory gave him multiple wins in a season for the first time in his TOUR career and made him the second consecutive wire-to-wire winner of the tournament. Eaks secured a new tournament record with 17-under 199, which eclipsed Jay Haas’ 16-under 200 score in 2005. This win was Eaks’ second on the Champions Tour.
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TOURNAMENT HISTORY
2008: A Record-Setting Weekend ~ Sept. 8–Oct. 14 In 2008, R.W. Eaks became the first player to win back-to-back titles at the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn Presented by Kia Motors. And from the start, it became apparent that no one could touch him. His opening round of 11-under 61 was the lowest start by a winner on the Champions Tour since 2004, and his final round 71 was the highest finish in Greater Hickory Classic history. His four-stroke margin was also the largest in tournament history, despite valiant efforts by Tom Kite and Tom Jenkins to chase him down. Eaks' performance record here is the best of any Champions Tour pro to date; before winning the 2007 event, he placed second after a playoff with eventual champion Andy Bean in 2006.
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2006: THE PLAYOFF BATTLE ~ Sept. 25–Oct. 1 Champions Tour veteran Andy Bean had a banner weekend at Rock Barn – leading every round of the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn Presented by Kia Motors and taking home winner’s rights from the Dale Jarrett Shootout. Bean matched a tournament course record with a 9-under-par 63 after the first round, led the second by two strokes, and finished the final round in a tie at 15-under with R.W. Eaks. A playoff on 18 ensued, where Bean birdied the hole and claimed his first career Champions Tour win.
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2005: BATTLE AT THE BARN III ~ Oct. 3-9 As Tropical Storm Tammy greeted players for Friday’s first round, the third annual Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn seemed anyone’s game. But on Sunday, it belonged to Jay Haas. Haas entered the final round tied for third and quickly climbed the leaderboard, eventually catching then-leader Dana Quigley with a birdie on Hole 13 to tie at 13-under. From there Haas led the way to the end, sinking birdie after birdie on the final three holes to finish 16-under par, two strokes ahead of the field. It was his first Champions Tour victory en route to being named 2005 Champions Tour Rookie of the Year.
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2004: BATTLE ON THE BACK NINE ~ Aug. 16-22 In the most classic rendition of victory, it all came down to the final group at the final hole on the final day of competition. Bruce Fleisher and Doug Tewell were neck-and-neck throughout the back nine, within one shot of each other and ultimate victory. In the last shot of the match, Tewell sunk a 12-foot-putt – with a putter borrowed from friend Walter Hall – for a birdie and the win by one stroke, marking Tewell’s eighth career Champions Tour title.
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2003: THE BATTLE CHARGE ~ Sept. 21-28 No one expected Craig Stadler to win –which is perhaps just why he did. The Champions Tour “rookie” had entered the final round two strokes behind two-day leader Larry Nelson and the rest of the lead pack. Within the course of the final round, Stadler caught the leaders and surged ahead to capture the win by two strokes. It was Stadler’s second Champions Tour win in 12 starts and earned him a Rookie of the Year nod in 2003.
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