Eaks defends title at Rock Barn

Sep 12, 2008 - 10:09 AM CONOVER, North Carolina (Ticker) -- R.W. Eaks looks to defend his title while Jay Haas will try and extend his lead in the Charles Schwab Cup race when the Greater Hickory Classic begins Friday at Rock Barn.

Last year, Eaks defeated Jay Haas and Rod Spittle by two strokes - a sweet victory for Eaks, who in 2006 lost in a playoff to Andy Bean.

Haas, who won here in 2005 and currently leads the Charles Schwab Cup race by 98 points, is looking for his third victory of the season and is second on the tour's money list behind Bernhard Langer.

Fred Funk, Denis Watson and Jeff Sluman are in the field and have each recorded a pair of victories this season. Bean will be looking to repeat his effort from two years ago when he tees it up Friday at Rock Barn.

Sluman won the First Tee Open At Pebble Beach last week, becoming the eighth player with a pair of victories on the Champions Tour this year. That marks the most multiple winners on the circuit since 2000.

First prize is $255,000.