July 10, 2006

JACKSON, MI — The 2006 Virtual Tournament has a new leader by the name of Chad Long. A leader by 1.6 points per round after an average round at a monsterous Grande Golf Club.

Long posted the best round of his life last week at Arrowhead Lakes near Westerville, OH. He finished a round in the dark on Friday scoring 40 more points. He proceeded to the Grande on Saturday, where he poured in another 48 points and first position in the season-long tournament.

"Each shot requires thought," said Long after a Grande front nine of 23-over par. Long and brother Greg played the Grande backwards on Saturday. "There is quite a bit of trouble out there, but even more fairway and green. If you hit the fairway, you score par or bogey for sure. If you miss it, you are looking at 10 or higher."

Long dropped a dozen strokes on the back nine shooting 9-over par including a quadruple bogey at the 6th hole. The Grande Golf Club boasts a 143 slope from the Gold Tee and 17 Poststats Bonus Points.

"He probably threw away a dozen shots in the first couple of holes," said playing partner Greg Long. "I can count 5 or 6 shots out of the greenside bunkers on his 2nd and 3rd holes. It was painful to watch."

In other news, partner Greg Long scored triple-bogey from 60 yards to shoot 4-over par at the Grande. "That is how someone throws away the best round of their career by getting greedy." Slick's round of 67 points included a tap-in birdie on Hole 11 with a penalty stroke. "The best shot of my life for sure," said Greg Long. "The ball finished 24 inches behind the hole after lipping the hole for eagle. The shot was uphill over two hazards from 240 yards away. An eagle with a penalty stroke would have been the story of my life."

The 3 wonderful rounds posted by the leader pushes Scott Zavinski into second position.