Hoch set to defend Ace Group Classic Crown

2009-02-19

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NAPLES, Florida (Ticker) - Scott Hoch looks to defend his title when the Champions Tour returns to action Friday for the start of the Ace Group Classic.

Last year Hoch made an eight-foot birdie putt on the last hole of regulation to get in a four-way playoff. He then made another eight-footer on the first playoff hole to outlast Tom Jenkins, Tom Kite and Brad Bryant and win for the second consecutive week.

Jeff Sluman, Hal Sutton, Jay Haas and Hale Irwin are among those in the field this week who will be looking to keep Hoch from repeating.

Sluman begins the ACE Group Classic with a streak of 31 straight rounds at par or better, while Sutton could have a slight advantage over the rest of the field.

Sutton and Arthur Hills are co-designers of the TPC Treviso Bay, site of this week’s event. TPC Treviso Bay is the only Champions Tour venue this year that is designed by an active player.

Haas could use any advantage he can get and could use a tip from Irwin on the how to win in Florida.

Haas has never won in Florida - he’s 0-for-112 overall and 0-for-10 on the Champions Tour. Irwin, on the other hand, has recorded nine of his 65 career victories in Florida.

Irwin’s victories include three Senior PGA Championships, two wins in the ACE Group Classic and one each in the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am and American Express Invitational.