January 5, 2009

WESTERVILLE, OH — Although, the 2009 Virtual Tournament does not begin for most of the active 106 players within the Carl Spackler Open Community, the annual update of points for all players has been completed. The 156 members registered for Carl Spackler Open were updated today with a couple of big handicap moves upward and downward.

Trent Cooper is once again loading up after placing 65th in the 2008 Virtual Tournament 50.3 points per round. He finished in 63rd position in 2007 and in a tie for 51st position in 2006.

"Backup the truck and load up the points," said Cooper of the distribution of points completed last week.

Jake Daw will grab a record amount after scoring 32.5 points per round in the 2008 Virtual Tournament. He will open with 4 points for triple-bogey, 6 points for double-bogey, and 9 points for bogey.

Chad Long, Jim Campbell, and Jean Dore are all big winners during the annual point distribution. "These guys played very poor last summer," said Long. "At least when you consider their handicaps on January 1, 2008." The goal behind point distribution is to level the playing field on January 1 to see who is the best and worst golfers of the year.

Jon Marti, Kyle Marti, and John Mello are the hardest hit. Marti is expected to lose 20 percent of his handicap from last January. "He has definitely turned his game around," said Vice President of Contests Matt Davis. "I am anxious to see the results first hand this June."

John Mello will lose 18 percent of his handicap after violating the Red Zone and finishing well in 2008.

PostStats LLC, the premier amateur sports entertainment website, announced the Poststats Points for Virtual Tournaments last Thursday.

The target of 60 points will be used for golfers with handicaps higher than 20 strokes. The bogey golfer and even more skilled golfers will be granted higher targets to help adjust the improvement scale. "There is no doubt Mike Lewis has more room to improve than Jason Ridgeway," said Long. "We need to capture that in the point target and overall system. Ridgeway's target is 68 points."

The point system also received an upgrade to include statistical analysis of golfers with home course play. "We have lots of negative statistics," said Long, CIO of Poststats LLC. "There is a noticable 3-5 percent stroke gain when a golfer with membership leaves his home course. The object is to level the playing field and this type of statistic increase handicap accuracy."

Golfers who play 60 percent of their rounds at the same course will raise their target by one point. Golfers who play 90 percent will raise their target by two points.

The 2009 Virtual Tournament is a season-long tournament with the goal to identify the most improved golfer of season. Poststats Points will remain unchanged with golfers playing better or worse than their handicaps throughout the year.