Top of leaderboard crowded at SAS Championship

Sep 26, 2008 - 11:11 PM CARY, North Carolina (Ticker) -- After the completion of Friday's first round at the SAS Championship, a six-way tie atop the leaderboard lacks the Charles Schwab Cup leader and his closest competitor.

Bruce Fleisher and Chip Beck are among a half-dozen players who signed for a 4-under-par 68 at the $2.1 million tournament at Prestonwood Country Club, while Jay Haas - who leads the Charles Schwab Cup standings by 139 points over Bernhard Langer - struggled to a 3-over 75.

Fleisher, who was not sure whether he would play because of the flu, was 2-over after six holes but rallied for six birdies to secure his share of the lead.

"I had the flu earlier this week. I felt a little better today," Fleisher said. "I had a very good back nine, hit a lot of good shots, but the course played really, really long."

Beck carded a 5-under 32 on the par-37 back nine en route to his 68. The duo is joined atop the leaderboard by Don Pooley, Andy Bean, Eduardo Romero and Dana Quigley.

"Very good start for me," Romero said. "I putted very well today. I told my caddie 2-under would be a good round today, but 4-under is very good."

Larry Mize opened with a 2-under 70 and is tied for 10th in his debut on the Champions Tour.

"I got off to a good start, played fairly solid," Mize said. "My plan is to play the next four events and play on this tour full-time next year. I'm looking forward to being out here with the guys."

Haas, who has captured the Senior PGA Championship and the Principal Charity Classic this year, managed only one birdie against four bogeys, putting him in a tie for 60th. The 54-year-old has posted 11 top-10 finishes through 16 tournaments this season.

Langer, 51, tallied three birdies and three bogeys on his way to an even-par 72. The German leads the money list and is scheduled to play all but one of the remaining five Champions Tour events.

A tie for third place at the Tradition in August, coupled with Langer's seventh-place finish, allowed Haas to return to the top spot in the standings.

Defending champion Mark Wiebe opened with an even-par 72 and currently is tied for 27th.

Haas finished tied for ninth at this event last year, eight strokes behind Wiebe, who shot a 198 in the three-day event to win by three strokes.

Fred Funk, who is 269 points back in third place, bogeyed three of his first five holes Friday en route to a 2-over 74.

First prize is $315,000.