(AP) 3/2/05 – After months of trash talking round one of the 2005 Harvest Golf Classic is in the books. And what a round it was!
After most of the crew got the kinks out at TPC Tampa Bay, and enjoyed a wonderful night sleep at the Comfort Inn, it was off to the Saddlebrook Resort in balmy Florida. With a tournament starting temperature of 50 degrees it took a while to heat things up. But things got hot on the back nine. Kevin Hayes hit driver, six iron onto the 482 yard par five to about 3 feet and drained the putt for eagle. But the eagle was shadowed by his father’s incredible stretch of five consecutive birdies on the back nine holes 13 through 17. To cap the five birdie stretch Tom Hayes chipped in from off the green!
With three more rounds to play the tournament is still up for grabs but the Vegas odds have shifted to 2003 Saddlebrook winner Jeff Riester. Jeff, coming off his Wednesday practice round with rental clubs and shoes, was quoted at saying “its good to have my babies back!” Jeff ended up with a set of ladies clubs at the airport baggage claim, due to a passengers reluctance to read her baggage tag. Jeff was quick to assume the lady was a plant, paid off by the fierce competitors of the Harvest Classic. The jury is still out but there is nothing that these guys won’t do to gain a slight advantage.
Don Hayes was overheard asking “What is the biggest comeback that anyone has made to win the Harvest Classic?” Don’t count him out even though he will be going out in the first group on Friday morning. Jim Hayes was found at the resort pay phone trying to change his flight back to Arizona to Friday afternoon, instead of Sunday. But as they say, there is still a lot of golf to play so stay tuned to Hayesvision.com for more updates.