June 23, 2008

PERU, IN — On a cloud covered day just a couple miles north of a massive thunderstorm near Indianapolis, Harold Anderson beat the reigning Carl Spackler Open champion. This wasn’t Butter versus Harold for the Open title. This was Butter's par against Harold's birdie in a slugfest.

Harold Anderson, a.k.a. Paco, opened his 2nd major in spectacular fashion. He parred the opening hole with a long putt. He bogeyed the second hole, but returned with an 11-point birdie at the 3rd hole.

"I started stronger than expected after the disappointing practice round," says Anderson. "It was windy out there, which makes things even more rewarding. Manuevering the ball through the wind required a lot of luck and some skills."

Anderson parred the 4th and 5th holes before taking a triple-bogey snowman at the 6th hole.

Paco birdied the very wet 7th hole while grabbing his 4th long putt. He had already opened with 36 points and had 12 holes to go.

Harold has averaged just 1.1 birdies per round over his past 15 scorecards, which included three tournament rounds at the Grande. He had doubled his birdie output on the front nine.

Paco finished the front nine with a 7-over 42. He scored 42 points with 5 long-putts. "Incredible start," said playing partner Joe Muscaro. "He really was giving a Golden Jacket performance in very difficult conditions."

Anderson carded two more birdies on the back nine and scored another 5 long-putt points. "He was running away with the tournament," says Greg Long, Chairman of the Captains Club. "Who expects four birdies per round? Nobody. Who expects to make 10 long-putts in 18 holes? This was unbelievable golf in a mini-hurricane.

Harold grabbed a commanding lead in the tournament.

He fell back to reality on Friday during Round 2 play. He carded just 5 pars, 1 birdie, and 4 long putts during 'moving day'. "It was rough out there today," said Anderson of the course conditions. "The wheels came off after my birdie at the 3rd hole. I really strugged to get back in a rhythm."

Paco had a tee time at 10:50AM on Saturday. The final pairing and was looking up at the reigning Golden Jacket winner Brian "Butter" Flanagan. Flanagan had birdied 3 holes on Friday, scored 78 points, and raced up the Leaderboard into the top position.

The war began with Flanagan adding to his lead. They made the turn. Brian with 164 points and Harold with 153 points. There were 11 points between them and the gap closed quickly.

Butter took his worst score of the tournament with triple-bogey at the 10th hole. Harold answered with an 11-point birdie, which included long-putt. The match was tied and the 11th hole was waiting.

Flanagan appeared to be rattled as he double-bogeyed six of the last eight remaining holes and never carded a par after the 3rd hole.

Harold took the lead at the 49th hole with a 4-point long-putt par. He slammed the door on the tournament after another 9-point birdie at the 15th hole. "I really played putted well this week," said Harold Anderson. "The birdies and pars were falling like never before."

Harold Anderson won the 2008 Carl Spackler Open Championship, Golden Jacket, Golden Hat, Gold Medal, and Championship Trophy. He also took home a credit to the 2009 Carl Spackler Open. He won the tournament by 5 points.

"It is great to your champion," said Harold. "It probably will not sink in for a couple of weeks."