June 1, 2007

JACKSON, MI — The 2007 Skills Challenge Contest returns for its 4th straight year with a new flavor. The contest will be held on Thursday after Round 1 inside the very large practice facility.

"The Grande Golf Club designed their practice facility with very large bunkers and plush chipping green," says Chairman Greg Long. "We will be taking advantage this year and starting the challenge in the trenches. Those trenches would be the sand."

The Skills Challenge Contest is a 64-golfer mini-tournament using rounds based on short game skills. The past opening rounds determined who could 1 or 2 putt from 40 feet in 30 seconds. Although surprising, the contest eliminated 50 percent of the tournament field. The past included a short 10 yard chip onto the green and inside a hole radius of 6 feet. This widdled down 75 percent of the remaining participants.

The 2007 Skills Challenge Contest will start in the greenside bunker. Participants will be given 2 golf balls or a maximum of 30 seconds to chip one ball onto the green. The ball must stay on the green because the fringe will not count.

"The bunker is sure to eliminate 65 percent of our participants," says John McAninch. "Maybe even 75 percent, but hopefully everyone can show some short game skills."

Guys who can handle the task will be invited over to the practice green for round 2. The putt length will be determined based on the number of participants left from Round 1, but expected to be around 35 to 40 feet. Remaining participants that can 1 or 2 putt will be invited to Round 3.

Round 3 will be back to the bunker, but to a fairway bunker approximately 40 yards from the green. The remaining participants will be given 2 golf balls or a maximum of 30 seconds to chip one ball onto the green.

"Golfers who hole out or 1 putt will be rewarded," says McAninch. "They will be granted one pass. They can use this pass in future rounds when they fail to meet a requirement."

The final round will be a standard chip from the rough by the remaining participants. Participants will be given 2 golf balls or a maximum of 30 seconds to chip a ball into the hole. The worst ball for each remaining participant will be used as the official ball. The closest ball to the hole wins the 2007 Skills Challenge Contest.

Jeff Miller returns as the 2007 Skills Challenge Champion with trophy in arm. Jeff has posted just one round in 2007, which should clearly effect his touch around the greens.

The contest is expected to take 60 minutes. The 2007 Carl Spackler Open Championship begins in 6 days.