Greater Hickory Classic

[Stanley]

Outright plays (2pts):

Craig Stadler to win 7/1 @ Stan James
Playing at Whistling Straits at the weekend and having no experience of the course or the Champions Tour will work against Romero, so siding with Stadler who should be a couple of points lower. Still the best player on this Tour or at least until others commit until it full-time and he is the defending champion so his course is good, to say the least.

Jim Thorpe to win 18/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
Sticking with Thorpe again, even though he hasn't shown the form that netted him a win in June and a win in July. But a couple of top-10 finishes since and a 3rd place finish last year suggest that this should be another week in which he should be a contender.

Larry Nelson to win 25/1 e.w. @ Stan James
Nelson seemed to have lost his form in June/July after a very good start to the season, but the cornered has definitely been turned with a top-20 finish in the U.S. Senior Open and a 3rd place finish in the 3M Championship this month. He was the leader after the 1st and 2nd rounds last year, but couldn't hold off Stadler on the Sunday. He still finished 2nd, so on the basis of good course form and improved current form, he is a worthy selection.

[Stanley]

Matchup plays (2pts):

Morris Hatalsky to beat Jerry Pate -114 @ Expekt
Expecting a good week from Hatalsky who is a very consistent top-20 performer and did finish 5th last year. Pate's form has dipped in the past six weeks and Hatalsky has finished ahead of him on each occasion during that time. The fact that Pate has no course experience also helps.

Morris Hatalsky to beat Andy Bean -111 @ Stan James
Comparable in terms of recent form, but Hatalsky is the more consistent and leads Bean 11-7-0 h2h in 2004. Bean also finished last year in a lowly 55th place.