September 24, 2003

TERRA ALTA, WV — The Founding Father Brian Flanagan is ready for this week's 2nd major of 2003. That major one mile west from Maryland in West Virginia is Golfapalooza. "We have been talking about 2002 for a year and feel like it was yesterday," he told in a conference call on Friday. "As time progressed, and yesterday watching Don McFarland hitting balls on the range, it has just reinforced that is excited."

Golfapalooza 2003, which takes place at Alpine Lake Golf Resort from Sept 25-27, is golf's 2nd major championship of the year.  Rick Dosky insists, however, that the excitement level for Golfapalooza will be just as high as the Carl Spackler Open if not more.

From a media standpoint it has been a little quieter because of the hurricane that past through the area -- there's been no qualifying and no founding father picks which are usually exciting. But Rick Dosky, Jason Watson, Greg Long, Brian Flanagan, Gus Sokos, Greg Garrett and Don McFarland have been waiting a year for this and the have been excited for a year."

"I am hoping to stay out of the emergency room again this year", said Greg Long. Greg escorted a player to the local hospital in 2001 for alcohol poisoning. "As a precaution, we have proactively obtained wristbands with player social security numbers. Hopefully that will simplify things at the hospital."

Gus Sokos said he was not going to talk to the field about scene at the hospital in 2001, but will remind them that they will be more "under the microscope" than ever. "It means more now, we have become larger as a group," he said. "You can't help but get a sense of strippers, alcohol and porn," he said. "Oh... and don't forget about golf."

Don McFarland has already turned Golfapalooza 2003 into a casino with his recent bets.  Hundreds of dollars have already been approved from scores posted on #1 to tournament MELC points.  "These guys are really just giving me their money.  I am very upset about not getting a point for double bogey, but still plan to kick butt."

Entertainment has been lined up again this year for Saturday and a new casino has been added to serve the player need to gamble.  The weather report is almost perfect with mid to high 60's and sunny to partly cloudy conditions.

Tee times for Round 1 have been published on the Golfapalooza portion of the website. Live scoring will begin Thursday evening through Saturday evening. Practice Rounds will also be posted on Wednesday evening.