May 17, 2006

DURHAM, NC — Brandon Hunter entered the 2006 Virtual Tournament Leaderboard birdieless this week. He holds 38th position.

Brandon opened with 98 strokes in mid-January before dropping his scores back to mid-80's, but still without a birdie. The 2-points for par and 1-point for bogey demands birdies and Brandon is entirely absent in that statistical category.

"His position on the leaderboard is a result from no birdies this year," said Greg Long. "He is not Myers-hacking, but he certainly is not playing his game. I am quite sure he has found a temporary slump. This kinda play is rewarded an outfit or two in June."

Additional cause for alarm is the 5,400 to 6,200 yardage this year. The short distances may or may not be putting unfamiliar clubs into his hands thus causing the inability to knock it close. The Neuse in June will play from an uphill 6,400 yards that is expected to feel like 6,700.

Brandon Hunter averaged over 1 birdie per round before entering the 2006 season. The 6-points for birdie is very important for success in the Virtual Tournament and could result in a do-or-die situation in his 2nd Major Championship in June.

In other news, the 2005 Carl Spackler Outfit receipent, Mike Herron has broken the Top 10 in the Virtual Tournament. The bad news remains the lack of field strength as Herron is averaging a very low 35.5 points per round.

The Virtual Tournament moves into mid-May and closer to its busy season. Late-May has traditionally been the very active including 80 scorecards over last Memorial Day Weekend.