Five golfers join ACE Group Classic field

Tournament officials for The ACE Group Classic announced today that golfers Gary Koch, Mark Lye, John Harris, Vance Heafner, and Denis O'Sullivan received sponsor exemptions to compete in next week's in The ACE Group Classic at The Club at TwinEagles.

"All five players are great additions to our field," said tournament director Jason Camp. "I am especially excited that we were able to get Gary into the field after how close he came to winning the Tournament in 2004 and Mark who lives in Naples and supports us all year."

Koch won six times during his career on the PGA Tour. In 2004 at The ACE Group Classic, he shot a first round, course record, 62 and ended up finishing tied for second with Tom Watson, after Craig Stadler birdied the first playoff hole. A Tampa resident, Koch also is a golf announcer for NBC Sports.

Lye won the 1983 Bank of Boston Classic on the PGA Tour. He made six starts on the Champions Tour in 2005 with his best finish a T14 at the Allianz Championship. His only appearance in The ACE Group Classic was a T53 in 2004. Lye is a lead golf analyst for The Golf Channel.

Harris will be making his fourth appearance in The ACE Group Classic with his best finish T20 in 2004. He attended the University of Minnesota on a hockey scholarship and was a first team All-American playing for legendary coach Herb Brooks' 1974 NCAA Championship Team. He played in 25 events in 2005 on the Champions Tour, with his best finish a tie for third in Seattle.

Heafner played in The ACE Group Classic last year and finished T44. He spent nearly 10 years on the PGA Tour before leaving in 1988. His PGA Tour career included finishing 33rd on the money list in 1982 and winning the 1981 Walt Disney World National Team Championship with Mike Holland. He was a three-time All-American at North Carolina State University.

O'Sullivan had success playing on the European Seniors Tour in

2005 and will be making his first Champions Tour start.