Michael Allen is the defending champion this week in the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic in Biloxi. The Top 30 in the Charles Schwab Cup are all in the 81-man field and seeking the $240,000 first-place check.

The winner of the Toshiba Classic, Fred Couples was a late entry into the tournament and is joined by fellow World Golf Hall of Fame members, Ben Crenshaw, Nick Faldo, Tom Kite, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle, Colin Montgomerie, Larry Nelson and Nick Price.

Tom Fazio created one of his best works at Fallen Oak. The course sits just a few miles inland from the Mississippi Gulf Coast and winds through wetlands, pecan orchards, flowering oaks and magnolia groves. Players must make crucial decisions on every shot while negotiating the varying undulation of the property. It can be stretched to over 7,400 yards, but will play less than the maximum this week.

The Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic is sponsored by a consortium of twelve local businesses in the Gulfport/Biloxi area to promote the benefits of visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast for golf, gambling, fishing, or just relaxing on the beautiful Gulf Coast beaches.

In addition to Fallen Oak, Windance, Diamondhead and Grand Bear Golf Clubs offer a diversion from the casino and provide challenges for any golfer. Several hotel and casino options in the area offer comfort and excitement off the golf course.

Bernhard Langer fell one stroke short of catching Couples at the Toshiba Classic, but his tie for runner-up allows him to maintain the lead in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup Race.

Couples moves into second place and will try again to catch Langer at a tournament that he won in 2012. Michael Allen, Kirk Triplett and Duffy Waldorf round out the Top Five in the Charles Schwab Cup race through the first four tournaments.

The 54-hole Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic will be broadcast on the Golf Channel all three days Friday-Sunday on the Golf Channel.