November 18, 2003

COLUMBUS, OH — Jeff Blankenburg stood on the 15th tee at Golfapalooza and noticed the fairway seemed to disappear once it veered around the creek and trees on the right.

"Where are we supposed to go?", Blankenburg said to Gus Sokos.  A fan watching them suggested a line over the woods.  Jeff took his stance, belted his drive and the ball disappeared over the trees, another perfect tee shot.

And perhaps that explains what Jeff is doing at Golfapalooza as one of the youngest player in the history of these golf trips.

Blankenburg was outside the top 21 in the On Tour Championship ranking. He won the raw score just last year. He was only two years removed from the low point in his career, when he failed to earn enough kitchen passes to obtain full attendance at Golfapalooza.

Not playing with the passion of his rookie season, Blankenburg fell down the leaderboard this year.  He finished 9th for the MELC Championship and recorded his 1st Top 10 finish.

Max Dieterle respects Jeff's game like no other.  "Players just need to keep playing out here. They are all capable of winning and not just competing", said Dieterle.  "Even coming from a snot-nosed little punk, I value what Jeff says", Max Dieterle said with a laugh.