By Michael Checkoway

Bob Eastwood, making his first Georgia-Pacific Grand Champions start after turning 60 in February, sank a seven-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to defeat Graham Marsh and claim his first Grand Champions title at the Toshiba Classic on Saturday. The Toshiba Classic is the first of six Grand Champions events on the 2006 Champions Tour schedule.

Eastwood started Saturday in the lead after shooting a six-under-par 65 at Newport Beach Country Club in Newport Beach, Calif., on Friday. After opening with six straight pars, Eastwood's second round then became a rollercoaster ride that saw him make only three pars the rest of the day. Following bogeys at holes 9, 10, 11 and 13, Eastwood made birdies at Nos. 14, 15, 17 and 18 to finish the two rounds at seven-under-par 135.

Marsh shot rounds of 66-69, including birdies on three of his last four holes on Saturday to tie Eastwood. After Marsh missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole, Eastwood rolled in his putt to claim the title.

Dave Eichelberger finished in third place one shot out of the playoff. Mike McCullough finished in fourth at six-under-par 136. Tom Wargo was fifth, one shot behind McCullough.

Eastwood earned $30,000 for the victory and leads the Grand Champions money list through one event. Mike McCullough won the Grand Champions money title last year with $119,267.

The Georgia-Pacific Grand Champions competition features players age 60 and older vying for an additional purse and title at six selected Champions Tour events. Scores posted during the first two rounds of the tournament determine the Grand Champions winner.

The 2006 Georgia-Pacific Grand Champions competition concludes with the Georgia-Pacific Grand Champions Championship, which will be held at Hawks Ridge Golf Club in suburban Atlanta, from Sept. 8-9. The Grand Champions play for weekly purses of $175,000, with $400,000 up for grabs at the Championship. The top 16 players on the 2006 Georgia-Pacific Grand Champions money list through the Commerce Bank Championship, plus two sponsors' exemptions, will be eligible for the season-ending, 36-hole championship. Mike McCullough won last year's Championship and its $85,000 first prize.

Information on the Georgia-Pacific golf program is available at www.gp.com/golf.