Kite, Hass capture Shootout

Monday, Nov. 18, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

"Jay and I were talking on 18, saying, 'Neither of us has been there for a long time,'" Kite related. "Granted this is not an official event, but a win is a win."

And, he might have added, a win worth $150,000 each, equaling in three days about half what Kite earned all this year on the PGA Tour.

Kite and Haas reeled off nine consecutive birdies Sunday to finish the Franklin Templeton Shark Shootout at 29-under, two shots ahead of Craig Stadler-Lanny Wadkins and Hale Irwin-Lee Janzen.

The winning pair had a 60 playing the scramble format used for the final round at Sherwood Country Club.

Although he hasn't won a regular PGA title since 1993, Kite actually won a tournament last month, a pro-am in Spain.

"The last two years have been kind of a bust for me, but I'm playing better now," he said. "This certainly doesn't hurt. Now I've got a winning streak of two.

"This gives me the opportunity to get some momentum going for next year."

The 44-year-old Kite, who has 19 career PGA wins, also said he is looking forward to 1997 because of his new duty, as captain of the American Ryder Cup team.

"That's a tremendous thing for me," he said.

Haas, 42, is a nine-time winner on the tour. But his last victory also came three years ago.