Haas extends lead in Des Moines

Golf Betting Lines

06/09/2007 - West Des Moines, IA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jay Haas, the reigning Champions Tour Player of the Year, overcame a double-bogey on Saturday with six birdies in a seven-hole span to increase his lead at The Principal Charity Classic.

Haas shot a four-under 67 in the second round and is three ahead at 10-under- par 132.

David Edwards shot a three-under 68 on Saturday and is alone in second place at minus-seven. Denis Watson, who won the Senior PGA Championship last month, posted a four-under 67 and has third place at six-under-par 136.

Haas, who held a one-shot lead over Dave Eichelberger at the start of the second round, bogeyed the par-three second hole. He got that stroke back with a 10-foot birdie putt at the par-three fifth, but trouble loomed.

At the par-four eighth, Haas drove his ball well to the right. His second shot remained in the tall grass and he finally reached the putting surface with his fourth shot. Haas missed the 35-footer for bogey and found himself trailing the lead.

That was short-lived for Haas, an eight-time winner on the Champions Tour, including two this year. He reached the par-five ninth green in two and two- putted for a birdie from 25 feet. Haas made it two in a row with a sensational seven-iron tee ball that rolled back to a foot.

"The next hole was big, the ninth hole," said Haas. "It's a relatively easy par five, if you drive it well and I did. I hit one of my best drives of the day and managed to get a two-putt birdie. That kind of settled me down a bit."

Haas stayed hot, although he parred the par-five 11th when his second left him with a difficult bunker shot. After the par at 11, Haas rattled off four consecutive birdies.

At the 12th, Haas drained a 17-footer for birdie to reach seven-under par and get within one of the lead. He holed a 45-foot birdie putt at the 13th to tie for the lead, then kicked in a three-footer at 14 to move in front for good.

He gave himself a good look at eagle at the par-five 15th, but his 20-footer stayed above ground. Haas tapped in for birdie, then moved three clear when Edwards could not make par from the right rough at 17.

Haas parred 16 and 17 in relative ease, but hit a strong approach to the closing hole at Glen Oaks Country Club. He had 14 feet to extend the lead, but missed the putt.

Now, Haas will take a three-shot lead into Sunday, although one week ago, he was in a similar position and lost. He held a one-shot advantage last week at the Boeing Championship at Sandestin, but lost to Loren Roberts after a final- round 73 and tied for fifth place.

"I try not to get ahead," said Haas, who is competing in this event for the first time. "We'll see. I'm hitting some good shots, but there's a long way to go."

Brad Bryant (65) and Mark James (70) are tied for fourth place at five-under- par 137.

Eichelberger struggled to a one-over 72 on Saturday and is knotted in sixth place with Jay Sigel (66) and Morris Hatalsky (68). The trio came in at four- under-par 138.

Tom Jenkins (67), Mike McCullough (67), Hale Irwin (66), Chip Beck (68), Wayne Levi (68), Dave Stockton (69), John Jacobs (70) and Tom Purtzer (71) share ninth at minus-three.

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Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

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