April 25, 2006

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — The skids continue in Virginia Beach where golf continues to be one disappointment after another. Rookie Dave Nickles holds the best position at 16th, but even he cannot find the top half of the virtual tournament leaderboard.

"Looks like a lot of inflated handicaps from 2005," says Captains Club member Jason Watson. "Jean Dore struggles to grasp 25 points per round. Jay Glover is even worse."

Jean Dore nearly won the 2005 Virtual Tournament last December before Nick Casale from New Jersey finished the season very strong.

Jay Glover stopped playing golf after the stroke shaving scandal. Trent Cooper's handicap has also ballooned in 2006. "The overall volume of play is down this year at the beach," says Greg Garrett. "A little rust in the opening holes for each round is not helping."

Jean Dore was the last round posted. He scored 21 points at Owl's Creek Family Fun Center. He played even on the par 5's that average 460 yards, which does show some positive signs.

Trent Cooper has put together a pair of 35 points per round in April. This might be a sign of good things.

Chris Hays is playing 4.3 strokes worse this year based on USGA handicapping. This is the best in the city. Nickles is playing 8.5 strokes worse than 2005, Glover is 9.9 strokes worse, and Dore is 10.9 strokes worse. Although Kevin Long, Jr. has not yet made the leaderboard, he is presently 10.2 strokes worse in 2006 than 2005.

The Virtual Tournament continues through December 2006.