April 30, 2001

COLUMBUS, OH — Chad Long(i.e. Skipper) is exactly where he didn?t want to be after his first nine holes of the Carl Spackler Spring Open Championship, but expects to be satisfied after what he calls a ?easy? back nine at Oakhaven Golf Club tommorrow evening.

The 12-year amateur shot a 18-over-par 54 last Tuesday due to very bad start that leaves him with an ugly perception from his peers.   The errant Olimar tee-shot on the easy, but twisty 1st hole did not have a chance to twist, turn, slice, bend, hook, or even sky.  ?Damn!  I just suck!?, said Dill as he walked off the first tee to a gallery full of laughter.  The ball dribbled off the men?s tee box and went an embarrassing 23 feet.  ?Everyone was watching me.  I felt very uncomfortable?, said Dill.  After he attempted a second shot that crossed the cart path (26 feet), his playing partner Scott Miller added to the golf league gallery on the tee, ?What is required when your second shot doesn?t cross the ladies tee??  Dill replied in a saddened and hurt voice, ?Leave me alone.?  Dill proceeded to swing the sticks an additional four times on first hole for a rare double bogey.

"It didn't feel like a big deal.  There was no panic," he said of the 1st hole.  "I knew I had a lot of holes in front of me.  This is a long tournament and I just had to stay patient."  And patient he was, as he stroked bogey on Hole 7 and Hole 8 to conclude a-much-improved front-nine.

?Make no mistake about it.  I feel good.  I'm going to turn it around on tomorrow?, said a very confident Dill.  He added, ?That back-nine is a joke.  I will make a few pars and be just fine.  You wait and see.?