Georgia-Pacific Grand Champions Championship

ATLANTA- September 22, 2005- Defending champion Mike Hill and Bruce Summerhays fired seven-under par 65s on Thursday to share the first round lead in the Georgia-Pacific Grand Champions Championship at Hawks Ridge Country Club in suburban Atlanta.

The Georgia-Pacific Grand Champions Championship features Champions Tour players age 60 and over competing in a 36-hole, stroke-play event for a $400,000 purse,  with $85,000 going to the winner.  Hill won the Championship at Sonoma Golf Club in Sonoma, Calif.

Hill made seven birdies and no bogeys, while Summerhays carded nine birdies and a double bogey over the 6,826-yard, par-72 Hawks Ridge layout.

After the round, the 66-year-old Hill attributed his score to a hot putter.  "I've never putted so well," said Hill.  "I made all my four footers.  It was just a great round of golf."

Summerhays, 61, also praised his putter for his geat round.  "The conditions were perfect out there today," said Summerhays.  "I hit it close on several holes, and the greens are so pure.  I made all the putts I needed to make."

Raymond Floyd and John Jacobs, who won his first Grand Champions event last week at the Constellation Energy Classic in suburban Baltimore, are tied for third place after first-round, five-under-par 67s.  Three golfers- Mike McCullough, Graham Marsh, and Gibby Gilbert- are tied for fifth after opening-round 68s.

This marks the first time the Championship is being played as a stand-alone event.  In the past, the Grand Champions finale has been held in conjunction with the Champions Tour's season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

Complete first-round scores are as follows:

T1          Mike Hill                    65 (-7)

T1          Bruce Summerhays      65 (-7)

T3          Raymond Floyd           67 (-5)

T3          John Jacobs               67 (-5)

T5          Gibby Gilbert               68 (-4)

T5          Mike McCullough          68 (-4)

T5          Graham Marsh             68 (-4)

T8          Jim Albus                    69 (-3)

T8          Jay Sigel                    69 (-3)

10          Dave Stockton            70 (-2)

T11        J.C. Snead                  71 (-1)

T11        Jim Colbert                  71 (-1)

T13        Dale Douglass              72 (E)

T13        Bob Charles                 72 (E)

T13        Jim Dent                     72 (E)

T13        Hale Irwin                   72 (E)

17          Tom Wargo                 73 (+1)

18          Al Geiberger                76 (+4)

Pairings and tee times for Friday's final round are:

9:00 am      Tom Wargo    73

                 Al Geiberger   76

9:09 am      Jim Dent     72

                 Hale Irwin   72

9:18          Dale Douglass   72

                Bob Charles      72

9:27          J.C. Snead       71

                Jim Colbert       71

9:36          Jay Sigel      69

                Dave Stockton     70

9:45          Graham Marsh       68

                Jim Albus       69

9:54          Gibby Gilbert      68

                Mike McCullough     68

10:03        Raymond Floyd     67

                John Jacobs      67

10:12        Mike Hill    65

                Bruce Summerhays     65